Re: If I wanted to put a magnet into some battery acid, would anything neat hap

Hi William!

Truth is, I've never done it myself, so I can't really say how cool it 
might be.  But chances are, something "dramatic" will happen. That's why 
we call it an experiment. The safety is entirely up to you.  People can 
blow up bombs "safely," but it seems that it's not safe for me to pick up 
a soil sample off the ground (I recently bent into the corner of a very 
sturdy table).


Here's how I would start: First, do some research on the net.  Get a 
notebook and write down everything you learn so if it does cool stuff you 
can figure out how to do it better next time.

#2- Know what you're working with
Find out what magnets are made of, and then what battery acid is made of.  
Note: on the mad scientist network, there is an answer to the 
question "what are magnets made of?" and this might not be the kind of 
magnet you have.  Here's a hint: the strong hard drive magnets are usually 
at least three different metals.  Also, battery acid: AA batteries are 
pretty dull.  One of the square 9volts is fun to stick your tongue on, but 
only once or twice.  Car batteries contain lead.  Stuff's toxic and 
cleanup is a pain 'cause if you don't do it right the first time, it can 
poison people for a long time.  So do your research and find out what else 
battery acid is called.  There's the chemical name and formula for it, and 
most hardware stores will sell it in a pretty concentrated form under a 
different name.

While you're at it, learn the "scientific method" -it may help you learn 
something even cooler than just looking at pretty fizzies or cool crystals 
(or whatever this does)- you might learn that next time you do it you add 
a penny or light a match and something Really cool happens.
Part of the scientific method is to, before you start, make an educated 
guess as to what will happen and what it'll look like when everything's 
done.

#3 cross check your poisons
Are any of the metals in your magnet that might hurt you or make you sick 
after many years?  
take steps to make sure your experiment stays put, put down plastic that 
the reaction can't go through, and make sure it doesn't get into your 
water or soil.  Get gloves and make an apron out of something sturdy. 

#4 Safety- 
always safety so you can try it again later.  Acid is acid.  Acid rots 
your teeth and gives you cavities.  If acid can make something that 
painful through something that hard, it could probably do some damage to 
your eyes and your nose, etc.  James Bond's enemies seem to like to use it 
against people, so be careful with that.  Think chemicals in solid liquid 
gas form, think about someone to watch you from a few feet back so if you 
get in trouble they can help, and think about cleanup.  eyes, breathing, 
face, and hands. Make sure you have those things protected or that they'll 
be OK.  Again, write it all down.  If you know it'll fizz or let off a 
nasty gas (do it outside and) try a fishing pole or a robot arm to do your 
dirty work for you.  Keep a hose handy.  Research your environmental 
impacts so you don't have to deal with anything nasty the summer before 
you head off to college.

#5 Documentation
In addition to writing it down, if something cool does happen, keep a 
camera handy and take before and after shots.

#6 Disposal
When you're done, please clean up.  If there's anything that might be 
dangerous to put into the regular garbage, call the people who handle the 
regular garbage and ask them what to do with "household hazardous waste."  
(please do this before you are done so you don't have it sitting in the 
garage- I know from experience that parents don't appreciate it)

I do hope that something really cool does happen, and if not, I hope it 
doesn't discourage you from experimenting.  Magnets are way cool, and so 
is chemistry.  Maybe the next experiment you devise you can put some 
chemicals in a tube so that when you apply an electromagnet, you get light 
out of it!

Best of luck!  --Sarah