Revision 68786099 of "Common chemicals" on enwiki

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==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 amature chemistry hobbiests a bad name in recents 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 safty 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 flower.  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 liekly to be volitile 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.

== Table of Common Chemical Ingredients and Where to Find Them ==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
! Chemical Name || Chemical Formula || Common Name || Where to Buy || Specific Brand or Product
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" style="width:175px" | Acetic Acid
|-
| align="center" | CH<sub>3</sub>COOH + H<sub>2</sub>O
| align="center" | 5% Solution: White Vinegar
| align="center" | Grocery Store
| align="center" | Any brand of white vinegar
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left"| '''Notes:''' Do not consume
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Ammonium Hydroxide
|-
| align="center" | NH<sub>4</sub>OH + H<sub>2</sub>O
| align="center" | 10% Solution: Household Ammonia <br> 27% Solution: Strong Ammonia
| align="center" | Grocery Store (for Household Ammonia) <br> Drug Store (for Strong Ammonia)
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''  Combine Household Ammonia and Strong Ammonia with Water.
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Boric Acid
|-
| align="center" | H<sub>3</sub>BO<sub>3</sub>
| align="center" | Boric Acid
| align="center" | Drug Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Calcium Carbonate
|-
| align="center" | CaCO<sub>3</sub>
| align="center" | Chunks: Marble, Limestone <br> Powder: Precipitated Chalk
| align="center" | Builder's Supplies (for Chunk) <br> Drug Store (for Powder)
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Calcium Chloride
|-
| align="center" | CaCl<sub>2</sub>
| align="center" | "Laundry Aid" or "Laundry Salt" <br> Road Salt
| align="center" | Grocery Store <br> Hardware Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:''' Many chemicals are used to melt snow.  Make certain that if you purchase Road Salt it is pure Calcium Chloride.
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Calcium Hydroxide
|-
| align="center" | Ca(OH)<sub>2</sub>
| align="center" | Slaked lime, Garden lime
| align="center" | Hardware Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Calcium Oxide
|-
| align="center" | CaO
| align="center" | Quicklime
| align="center" | Builder's Supplies
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Calcium Sufate
|-
| align="center" | (CaSO<sub>4</sub>) * H<sub>2</sub>0 <br> CaSO<sub>4</sub> * 2H<sub>2</sub>O
| align="center" | Plaster of Paris or <br> Gypsum
| align="center" | Hardware Store 
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Caustic Soda
|-
| align="center" | NaOH or KOH
| align="center" | Detergent
| align="center" | Grocery Store <br> Pool Cleaning Supplies
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:''' Caustic Soda is not a mixture.  Make certain what you are using is 94-99% pure.  Caustic Soda is a central to the manufacture of soap.  
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Glucose
|-
| align="center" | C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>12</sub>O<sub>6</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>O
| align="center" | Corn Syrup
| align="center" | Grocery Store 
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:''' For use in most formulas, the corn syrup should be dilluted with water, but the solution varies.
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Hydrochloric Acid
|-
| align="center" | HCl + H<sub>2</sub>0
| align="center" | 25% Solution: Muriatic Acid
| align="center" | Hardware Store 
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Magnesium Sulfate
|-
| align="center" | MgSO<sub>4</sub> *7H<sub>2</sub>O
| align="center" | Epsom Salt
| align="center" | Drug Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Manganese Dioxide
|-
| align="center" | MnO<sub>2</sub>
| align="center" | Pyrolusite
| align="center" | Hardware Stores
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:''' Pyrolusite can be extracted from certain types of batteries, called dry cells, but its use is becoming rare.
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Naphthalene
|-
| align="center" | C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>8</sub>
| align="center" | Moth balls
| align="center" | Hardware Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Sodium Bicarbonate
|-
| align="center" | NaHCO<sub>3</sub>
| align="center" | Baking Soda
| align="center" | Grocery Store
| align="center" | Arm & Hammer
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:''' Be careful to use only single action baking soda when sodium bicarbonate is required. Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, but baking powder has other ingredients, such as potassium tartrate and sodium monophosphate. Double Action Baking Powder contains single action baking powder, a 'high temperature acid' which is a gas formed at room temperature when moistened, and corn starch, which is added as a drying agent to prevent accidental activation. 
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Sodium Chloride
|-
| align="center" | NaCl
| align="center" | Salt, Table Salt
| align="center" | Grocery Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Sodium Hydroxide
|-
| align="center" | NaOH
| align="center" | Caustic Soda, Lye
| align="center" | Grocery Store
| align="center" | Draino
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Sodium Potassium Tartrate
|-
| align="center" | NaKC<sub>4</sub>H<sub>4</sub>O<sub>6</sub> * 4H<sub>2</sub>O
| align="center" | Rochelle Salt
| align="center" | Drug Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Sodium Tetraborate
|-
| align="center" | Na<sub>2</sub>B<sub>4</sub>O<sub>7</sub> * 10H<sub>2</sub>O
| align="center" | Borax
| align="center" | Drug Stores, Laundry Isle
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Sucrose
|-
| align="center" | C<sub>12</sub>H<sub>22</sub>O<sub>11</sub>
| align="center" | Cane Sugar
| align="center" | Grocery Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:'''
|-
| rowspan="3" align="left" | Zinc Chloride
|-
| align="center" | ZnC<sub>l2</sub> + H<sub>20</sub>
| align="center" | Tinner's Fluid
| align="center" | Hardware Store
| align="center" | None
|- 
| colspan="4" align="left" | '''Notes:''' Also called "Killed acid," Zinc Chloride can be created by disolving a zinc small amount of zinc in Hydrochloric acid.  Used for cleaning copper. 
|}

== Helpful Links ==
== References ==
[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307135748 The Golden Book of Chemistry], 1960

[[Category:Chemistry]]
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