8 replies to this topic

[chrissw]

Does anyone know if there are any legal restrictions in the UK for
private citizens to be in possession of laboratory chemicals at home
in small quantities (say up to 2 litres for liquids and 1kg for solids) for
private experimentation/study purposes?

I don't mean Category 1, 2 or 3 restricted chemicals that could be used for nefarious purposes such as drug manufacture, etc, but I do mean things like concentrated mineral acids (nitric, hydrochloric, etc), alkalies,
salts and the usual stuff one would find in grammar school chem labs.

[BigG]

Does anyone know if there are any legal restrictions in the UK for
private citizens to be in possession of laboratory chemicals at home
in small quantities (say up to 2 litres for liquids and 1kg for solids) for
private experimentation/study purposes?

I don't mean Category 1, 2 or 3 restricted chemicals that could be used for nefarious purposes such as drug manufacture, etc, but I do mean things like concentrated mineral acids (nitric, hydrochloric, etc), alkalies,
salts and the usual stuff one would find in grammar school chem labs.

I'm not aware of such restrictions, and in many cases - you find those chemicals available for sell to individuals for all sort of things. For example - Sulphuric Acid 80% is available at my local hardware store for drain opening. Hydrochloric acids are commonly used for a verity of purposes and can be bought at 10% w/w at your local pharmacy. Nitric acid is a bit less strait forward - as it is mainly bought at trade counters - but still used for processing metal and in some etching industry.

Many young men buy chemistry sets, which contain a verity of interesting chemicals. As you said ? as long as you are honest about it and use it to learn about the world around you ? there is really no issue. I would like to think that I would encourage my kids to know and experiment in the areas of chemistry, physics and biology ? and I hope they will enjoy it as well.

The main problem comes is your usage for those materials are not so sincere. Members must remember that there are laws against manufacture of explosives in this country ? and those are very well justified. When you set to explore pyrotechnic ? you must seek to understand which is consider acceptable and what is not. There are plenty of posts about that subject in the relevant threads.

[adamw]

Why would you need several litres of acids for pyrotechnics?

[Richard H]

The only acids you should need are oxalic and boric acid. Both relatively 'safe and sane!'.

[seymour]

Nitric acid makes making nitrates from carbonates so much cheaper, quicker and easier (and potentialy more dangerous) than the vinegar method. Citric and tartaric acids make very nice sherbert

[chrissw]

Why would you need several litres of acids for pyrotechnics?

Sorry if I didn't make it clear in the first place - I intend to do private study
of chemistry in general, possibly leading on to an OU degree later on when I retire
but these days you only get to do practicals for 2 weeks of the year in summer, unlike in the "good old days" when the OU used to supply students with quite
comprehensive chemistry gear for home use.

[Andrew]

Owning chemicals is not a crime, sure there are some exceptions, but nothing used in pyro will get you nicked just for having lots of it. As my girlfriend always says, 'it's not the size of it, it's what you do with it that counts!'

[adamw]

Please be careful what you buy and where from. Having several litres of acids is asking for trouble. You can try your 'freedom to own' clause, but I believe the 'services' will really be on the look-out because of all the recent terrorist activity. It's sad but true.

[The_Djinn]

Unfortunately it is a catch 22 situation... as amatures / hobbyiest / enthusiast etc or whatever we deem ourselves, we should not have large quantitys of any materials as we are requiered to work within the bounds of "Experimental" purposes. The problem comes in where some chemicals or some suppliers will only sell in bulk... win some.. lose some.

As for size and what you do with it hmm.. your GF telling you something ?

Mark