Transwiki:Common chemicals

Common chemicals and where to find them
Where can an average student with little to no budget find common chemical component for home use? The following table, compiled from an archive of old chemistry textbooks, lists the household equivalents of chemicals which would ordinarily need to be purchased in large quantity from a chemical supply house. While sources such as the "Anarchist's Cookbook" have given amateur chemistry hobbyists a bad name in recent years, there are many legitimate uses for the following chemicals: science fairs, homemade cleaning solvents (for silver and copper), ceramic glazes for potters, etc.

Be aware that substances here may not be perfect substitutes. Before conducting an experiment, double check data found here against other sources.

A word on safety
This is not an article on the safety proceedures you should follow while working with chemicals; however, if you are new to chemistry, there are a few basic guidelines you should keep in mind:


 * Always, ALWAYS protect your eyes when combining anything more potent than eggs and flour. ALWAYS.


 * Always make certain chemicals are clearly labeled before, during and after use. Many chemicals can cause serious injury if ingested accidentally.


 * If you are a minor, even if you are a teen, you should seek parental supervision before combining chemicals that may react dramatically.


 * Protect your skin from contact with any chemicals. This is best accomplished by wearing gloves, using tongs at all times, or both.


 * Whenever you are expecting a dramatic chemical reaction, such as in the creation of minor explovsives, you should be aware that the chemical components involved are likely to be volatile BEFORE the end of the experiment. Take care handling these chemicals.


 * Finally, know what reactions and possible complications to expect from an experiment in advance. If you are following a set of instructions that does not include this information, it is likely that the author does not have first hand knowledge of the experiment, in which case you should seek out directions from another source.