XPost: sci.energy.hydrogen, sci.energy, sci.physics   
   XPost: misc.survivalism   
   From: bobnospam@gmail.com   
      
   Jim Wilkins wrote:   
   > "Don Lancaster"  wrote in message   
   > news:a0qcdfFd1uU1@mid.individual.net...   
   >> On 5/7/2012 5:04 AM, Jim Wilkins wrote:   
   >>   
   >> By any measure, hydrogen gas is exceptionally dangerous and in a   
   >> class by iteslf.   
   >   
   > Being an electronic lab tech with a chemistry degree I have been the   
   > stuckee for UL-type "safety" experiments involving blowing up charging   
   > lead-acid batteries and similar devices with accident potential. I   
   > also set off a few model Hindenburgs, spray cans, fire extinguishers   
   > and other lab and home pressure containers in remote sandpits out of   
   > curiosity. Sharp-edged metal container fragments can fly a long ways   
   > and still have enough energy to stick into trees.   
   >   
   > The hydrogen-filled Hindenburgs turned out to be tame enough to use as   
   > indoor college pranks. They only rattled windows when the firecracker   
   > ignited the balloon, with more WHOOMP than bang despite some air   
   > inside. For context other students were depth-charging the sinks and   
   > toilets to pieces and shooting squirrels from the windows.   
   >   
   > Hydrogen may require unique and specific handling procedures but it   
   > doesn't explode any more violently than other gases, except acetylene   
   > which reputedly can detonate under pressure. These aren't the times to   
   > be Googling for references on it.   
   >   
      
   The hydrogen/oxygen mixture produced by charging batteries burns quite   
   violently. At least, a sandwich bag filled with it made one hell of a bang when   
   a friend of mine tried it.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)