Generon Filter Supplement

I recently had a tremendous opportunity to test out some cool technology on my channel: a nitrogen membrane filter by Generon. You can see that video here: Testing the Generon Nitrogen Membrane Filter. You might want to watch the video first, to give context to the discussion below.

I got a lot of great comments on that video, and one in particular brought up some really great points that I wanted to take the time to address. Here's the full comment by piranha031091:

Let's address both of those points with some exciting... math!

Boron Research

As mentioned in my new video, Elemental Extractions 5: Boron, I've been doing a lot of research on the element and how to isolate it. My chosen reaction for that video (and my old one on boron) was the magnesiothermic reduction of boric oxide:
B₂O₃ + 3Mg == 2B + 3MgO
But it turns out that this pathway only produces very impure boron, for several reasons. Read on for some of the results of my research, with links to the papers I mention. You can also see my thread on ScienceMadness for some extra discussion.

Major Lab Renovation Part 3: Furniture!

The renovation progresses! I received my official lab furniture and am in the process of installing it in the room. There are a few minor/major problems to resolve before I'm finished, though.

Major Lab Renovation Part 2: Safety!

The first pieces of my new lab have arrived: real, heavy-duty lab safety cabinets for flammables and corrosives!

Also, I'll be sealing the grout lines in the lab with this suggestively-named product:

This will help keep spills from staining (or possibly dissolving!) the grout. The tile is ceramic so it should be reasonably resistant to most things on its own.

Now to await the furniture!

Major Lab Renovation Part 1: First Steps!

My home lab has served me well for the past seven years on YouTube (can't believe it's been that long!), but now it's time for a major overhaul and renovation of the space. You may have already seen the announcement video on my YouTube channel. Rather than post several small videos, I thought I'd document my progress here as things happen. I'll make a video to showcase the new setup once it's all in place, but that could take several months. So first, let's start with a tour of the lab space I've been using so far.

Golden Rain

This post is the video companion to this video.

This experiment is hands-down the most beautiful chemistry demonstration I've ever seen. I'll be synthesizing lead(II) iodide, which has a beautiful golden yellow color. This experiment is especially striking because this bright yellow solid is produced from two water-clear solutions.

Materials

• 1.0 g Potassium Iodide, KI
• 0.8 g Lead Nitrate, Pb(NO₃)₂
• 500 mL Distilled Water

Reaction

Pb(NO₃)₂ (aq) + 2KI (aq) --> 2KNO₃ (aq) + PbI₂ (s)

Getting Started With Home Chemistry

As a part of my participation in the Gulf Coast MakerCon, I wanted to write a short article to cover the basics of home chemistry, for those that want to know more. We'll go over where to start, how to find supplies, and a few excellent resources I use in my own experimental pursuits.