Demented Ferret

I've got some useless Copper Sulphate (about 2kg) and was wondering if there was a way of turning it into Copper Oxide - or possibly any other more useful chemical using electrolysis.

I've read that by using carbon electrodes in Copper Sulphate solution you make a very small amount of Copper Oxide, that until the electrodes are coated in copper, whereby the Copper Oxide production stops - I've tried this and it seems true, the solution did turn a little more black than when things started - but after the electrodes were coated, no more black was produced.

Thanks in Advance,

Ferret.

Do it, keep the main forums up but having every thread listed is a horrid idea, you'll attract the crowd and I've been contacted by many people about pyrotechnics who aren't even members of the board:

http://www.google.com/remove.html

DOOO ITT.

Yeah, I've made my first batch of Black Powder with the non-milling method (With the boiled distilled water and such) - I've only made 50g as a start to test if my ingredients produce some good results. Anyway - back the the topic, I have let the BP 'paste' to evaporate for 2 days now in the sun, and being only 50g it still annoys me that it is still clumpy and slightly moist - I do however have a casserole slow heat-cooker that 'cooks' casserole over a 10 hour period without reaching boiling point. It is rather like a large ceramic bowl with heat being produced from the sides, not the base.

Question - is it safe to place my black powder IN A smaller bowl in the middle of this cooker? (It is not touching the heat sources). [Keep in mind this thing won't go over 100 degrees C on the high setting, and I have it on the low setting].

Thanks in advance,

Ferret.

I've been very interested in the thermite (or Goldschmidt) reaction, but I am unsure on what 'grade' or Iron Oxide I should use. I have created some black ferromagnetic Iron Oxide, and have been suggested, by a few sites - that black is the ONLY type that will assist the thermite reation. I've also come across webpages that state red iron oxide is the ONLY type that works in the reaction.

As easy as it is to turn my black grade into red, I cannot afford to waste my Aluminium at this moment. So I've come here to ask people who know what they mean, by experience, not by theory.

Well...I recently purchased some microfine aluminium powder, is there any chance it is TOO fine? I've attempted a few experiments, but with no avail.

I was just wondering, due to aluminium's tendancy to oxidise, would it do so damn quickly that it becomes virtually unreactive?