phillmypintpot

if you want to be Mega safe, throw in a strong soln of NaOH and then dump it.

Many thanks, I've got some NaOH kicking about, I might even earn some brownie points from 'her' for cleaning the drains if I make it concentrated enough

I've just Googled tetramine copper II nitrate and it looks like I could have unwittingly made some, however it is the crystals that present the danger, not the solution. I'm really glad I didn't get any ideas about evaporating it out of solution.

Ironically, it's amazing how many people out there are trying to make it, it appears to be one of those things that are difficult to make if you are trying.

I appear to have discovered what the filtrand is - copper hydroxide, so it's not all bad!

I've had my fingers burned now, metaphorically speaking, so no more experiments without thorough research first!!

Just one more question, what's the most environmentally friendly way to dispose of tetramine copper II nitrate solution?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEVER put Copper in AN! EVER!

it makes tetramine copper (II) Nitrate, an Explosive!

pour it all away NOW!

Eek!!!!!!

Is that the filtrate, or the filtrand? I presume the filtrate.

Is it safe in solution, or is it dangerous in any state?

Many thanks for looking out for me, I am deeply appreciative. I'll take it as a lesson learned & seek advice first before any more kwackery.

In my defence, I did try to google it first and really couldn't find any information and I searched for about 2 hours. I suppose I didn't ask the right question!

actually copper chloride with Al powder burns very well also, you don`t have to convert to the oxide to make a thermit reaction, the Cl2 works just as well as the Oxygen.

I 'nuked' the filtrand to oxidise the copper particles, when the sparks had stopped flying and the whole mass was glowing a nice cherry-red colour, I removed it from the microwave, gave it a good stir and left it to cool.

(1) Copper oxide formed at the anode.

(2) Hydrogen liberated at the cathode.

(3) Hydrogen reduces copper oxide to copper at the cathode.

(4) If the electrolyte becomes concentrated, chlorine will be liberated at the anode, resulting in the formation of copper chloride/ chlorate

(5) As the chlorine is liberated, the remaining electrolyte will be potassium hydroxide, maybe resulting in the formation of copper hydroxide.

My best guess, from my experience of this, was that the filtrand after all of the above had occured was a combination of copper particles, copper oxide(s), copper chloride and/or chlorate, copper hydroxide.

I dried the filtrand, 'nuked' it in an old microwave (which oxidised the copper particles & 'converted' the copper hydroxide to copper oxide). What was left was a green tinged black solid, which I assumed to be a mixture of copper oxide and copper chloride.

Was it of any use for anything?

God Yes! Mixed in a 4 to 1 ratio with aluminium powder, it made a very lively, easy to light, if a little *cough, cough* smoky thermite.