3 replies to this topic

[jayden]

I have got a little bit of lead dioxide from an old battery.
I would like to make crackling micro/dragon egg stars but for that you need lead tetraoxide.
Is it possible to synthesise lead tetraoxide from lead dioxide?
Will heating it work to make it gain 2 extra oxygen atoms or will it decompose to form lead? But then of course another three lead atoms have to be added.
PbO2 + 2Pb + O2 = Pb3O4 ??
or 2PbO2 + Pb = Pb3O4 ??
I have my doubts whether it will work.
I have a feeling heating it will cause:
PbO2 = Pb + O2
Or am I wrong?
I am aware that lead tetraoxide is very poisonous.
Is there anywhere I can get lead tetraoxide (or bismuth tetraoxide)?
Or is there an alternative way to make crackling stars?
Thanks, Jayden.

[a_bab]

Well, firstly the lead tetraoxide is industrially obtained from "roasting" the molten lead metal in a air current at very controlled temperature ranges for many hours. At home scale, it can be obtained from the lead nitrate decomposition (in air current). I don't recomend it, ad you'd likely end up poisoning yourself and your yard due to the lead aerosols (we are dealing with strong currents of air here). I can dig some other synths I have (one involving sodium hydroxide/lead acetate and some others).

As for the bismuth trioxide, the good news is that it is easier to make. Moreover, the subcarbonate (and possibly the nitrate) will work too for the crackling stars. If you can get any bismuth salt, you should be able to get the trioxide by converting your salt (if needed) to the carbonate and then roasting the carbonate (at 300 degrees it decomposes to the Bi2O3). The carbonate can be obtained by mixing the sulphate for instance with sodium carbonate. The Bi carbonate will precipitate, and Na contamination is of no concerning here.

[jayden]

Well, firstly the lead tetraoxide is industrially obtained from "roasting" the molten lead metal in a air current at very controlled temperature ranges for many hours. At home scale, it can be obtained from the lead nitrate decomposition (in air current). I don't recomend it, ad you'd likely end up poisoning yourself and your yard due to the lead aerosols (we are dealing with strong currents of air here). I can dig some other synths I have (one involving sodium hydroxide/lead acetate and some others).

As for the bismuth trioxide, the good news is that it is easier to make. Moreover, the subcarbonate (and possibly the nitrate) will work too for the crackling stars. If you can get any bismuth salt, you should be able to get the trioxide by converting your salt (if needed) to the carbonate and then roasting the carbonate (at 300 degrees it decomposes to the Bi2O3). The carbonate can be obtained by mixing the sulphate for instance with sodium carbonate. The Bi carbonate will precipitate, and Na contamination is of no concerning here.

Thanks for the advice. I won't be making lead tetraoxide then, I might make some bismuth trioxide (or maybe buy one of the chemicals).
I'll have a look around and see.
Thanks, Jayden.

[Arthur Brown]

Wherever you are your usual pyro supplier should assist with lead or bismuth salts.

Learn to work cleanly! wear gloves and a face mask!