Make Potassium Metal (Catalyzed Magnesium Reduction Method)

[Ledgeclingr000000000]

Really? A voice changer? You're not making methamphetamine as well are you? Cuz voice masking will not easily fool the DEA

[dfkp95]

Thanks for your kind help, Rannyfash!

[superpwned80]

7:12 is a true chemist laugh

[essenceofcool]

this reference might go unnoticed, but does anyone think he sounds like krieger from archer?

[gelmintolog2]

это самое крутое видео получения щелочных металлов!!!

[dfkp95]

Does secondary butanol (2-butanol) as a catalyst work too? It is butanol, but it is a secondary alcohol. And where can I get tertiary butanol from?

[ryanrenesis]

7:10

LOL.

[dfkp95]

Is 2-butanol (sec. butylalcohol) also possible?

Please respond.

[Rannyfash]

@dfkp95 2-butanol is a secondary alcohol, it will not work, sorry

[badshabz1]

How do you get all this equipment?................ also the glass equipment is really expensive!

[butternutsquashpie]

@badshabz1 these guys are from a university around me

so they have daily access to this stuff

[ductape95]

Nighthawkinlight made a video on how to make sodium metal using a slightly different (and more dangerous) method than this. His chemistry is the same as yours though except without the alcohol catalyst.

[Neilidity]

Regarding the lack of success with NaOH to give sodium, possibly it's down to a lower solubility of NaOH as compared to KOH - perhaps melting NaOH (in a metal container) and carefully adding the Mg shavings could give result?

[Tmaker197812]

interesting ... redox reactions in nonaqueous electrolyte.

[Bulgroz99]

If you want to make the potassium even more reactive, you can make it into potassium foam. But be careful, as potassium foam will not just simply burn on contact with water, it explodes violently.

[YouAreABunghole]

NYYEAAHHAHA

That's what you get for being an alkali!

Selenium FTW!

[hoppes9]

You sound like you've been breathing sulfur hexafluoride to disguise your voice.

[IvanSRBfilip]

@hoppes9 yes

[explosivemania]

@hoppes9 If you record the sound of the video and bring the frequency up a little, you can hear his natural voice. Considering the quality of the effects used in his videos, I don't have any problems believing he used a sound editing program to alter his voice. Note: This is NOT meant to offend NurdRage, as you have the complete right to anonymity.

[HKFootBoy]

Cool . . . but curious on WHY the magnesium could replace potassium, since potassium is so much higher on the reactivity list than magnesium?

[butternutsquashpie]

@HKFootBoy

Potassium Hydroxide

Magnesium Oxide

Hydroxides and oxides have different reactivities as well

plus the heat and the catalyst make a huge difference

Also, there is the fact that potassium melts at 70ish degrees

and magnesium melts at around 600

[tim0090]

he washed it with water and caught something on fire lol

[adriiPortillo]

Hey nurdrage, how about using deoxidized alluminium instead of magnesium as a reduction agent? I dont think it may work but it may be cheaper if it does...

[angryaznman]

7:13

[tunnelscope]

I guess asking what you want to be when you get older is out of the question.....

[wli2718]

next week: how to make nuclear weapons!!

[PyroPudding]

Yayy! I just got my 250ml of tertiary amyl alcohol, time to make a crapload of potassium.

[elementcollector1]

@PyroPudding Where?

[snho0k]

@GTHaroFITBMX what kind of stores sell this stuff?

[ferencproject]

MUHAHAHAHA!!! So that's how you make potassium...

[terawattyear]

Excellent! I'd no idea potassium could be made other than through electrolysis of the molten salt. This is so clever!

[aten747]

that is really cool

[MrDimebagdarell]

Could you use electrolysis on a solution of potassium chloride to make potassium hydroxide for this reaction?

[Bakmoon]

@MrDimebagdarell No. That would make hydrogen gas. You could take pure potassium chloride and melt it and then electrolyze that to get potassium though.

[MrDimebagdarell]

@Bakmoon It would make Hydrogen gas and hydroxide ions, which should react with the KCl to make a single replacement reaction. At least thats what I theorized.

[Bakmoon]

@MrDimebagdarell I think you are corect that it would make KOH. I misread your question.

[Snoepie97]

The people who disliked this has where their brains sit instead a rock cause it seems that it is a bit hard for them to think this is cool.

[aaron45765]

I love you videos! I find it funny that a 10 year old can understand all of this. :p

[Heroofthemoment]

The sinister laugh as you threw the big sphere into the lake/ pond was hysterical. Great stuff man keep it up.

[roguesqadronairsoft]

can you do this but able to make a 1lb ball that would be awesome

[rebenergy]

will 70% isopropanol be ok to wash equipment????

[sunnyjason]

@rebenergy no cuz the water will react with potassium combined with ispropanol there will be big fire.

[ryusekai]

science is cool

[TheHubps]

sorry for my bad english and for my probably stupid comment :)

to make sodium couldn't you try to use the lithium exctracted from the batteries? it could work on theory but... i hope that i don't say any stupid things and i have help you a little :)

[CarbonBasedGaming]

Why do you feel the need to deepen your voice with software? why not just use your own voice?

[SaboeMC]

Will methylsulfonylmethane (MSM or DMSO2) work as an alternative solvent? I find that tetrahydronaphthalene is rather expensive and hard to find.

[MrStogieMonster1988]

I find all these video's fascinating :) good stuff nurd rage can't wait to see what you have next for us :)

[outslider1]

7:13

This laugh!!!

[AngusYoungSG1]

I wanna be a chemist.....but this shit is hard:(

[kyparkour1]

one day were gonna here on the news that this guys blew up his house.

[Manulepoilu]

Good afternoon,

I've found your video very interesting. Would it work if i use 1-butanol instead of t-butanol ? Thanks for reply. Emmanuel from Switzerland.

[98JMA]

@Manulepoilu

No. As he clearly states, primary alcohols such as 1-butanol will not work. You must have a tertiary alcohol for the proper catalysis of this reaction. Do you know the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols?

[Manulepoilu]

@98JMA

Hello,

Well, as far as I know, it's a question of the position of the CH3-group in the molecule. Then, the tertiary butanol is recommended for the reaction. Sorry for my ignorance. If you have a deeper explication, please, let me know. By the way, if you know a lot about chemistry, do you maybe know how I can use hydroquinone to reduce gold from a solution ? pH and solvent. Deep thanks. If you want, I can give you my private mail. Have a nice day. Manu

[98JMA]

@Manulepoilu

Ok, the type of alcohol depends on how many other carbons the carbon that holds the OH- group is bonded to; in ethanol, you have one additional carbon, so it is a primary alcohol. The OH- hosting carbon is bonded to two other carbons, so it is secondary. In t-butanol and t-amyl alcohol, three carbons are attached to the carbon holding the OH group.

With the gold, did you extract it initially using Aqua Regia?

[Manulepoilu]

@98JMA

Thanks for your mail. In fact, I haven't dissolve it for the moment. I'm looking if I'm going to use hydrogen peroxyde and potassium cyanid or a mixture of HCl and KNO3. I'm asking myself if I'm going to make an alloy with 3 times the weight with lead and dissolving the whole stuff in nitric acid. There are a lot of possibilities. What would you suggest ? By the way, from where are you writing ? I hope to write to you soon, Best regards. Manu.

[98JMA]

@Manulepoilu

If you have access to it, I would suggest using aqua regia (1 part conc HNO3 and 3 parts HCl) to dissolve your gold. It would dissolve up to give a green coloured solution of chloroauric acid, and then you could add excess magnesium as a precipitant. It would first destroy any remaining acids, and then would, as a more powerful reductant, reduce the Au3+ ions to powdered gold, which you could then collect.

I write from the United Kingdom, Wales.

[Manulepoilu]

@98JMA

Hello, well, we are not so far. I'm living in Geneva ! Ok, thank you so much for your help. By the way, if you don't mind, we can write further each other. My private mail is as follow : esecretan@hotmail.com

I would like to ask you some other questions. I think it's easier if we can write directly. Thanks anyway. Have a nice sunday. I have a uncle living in Settle !! Manu.

[lunarjog]

This is great stuff. I can learn and get practical knowledge on chemistry experiments that would be dangerous for me to do and yet not actually have to do them. Thanks NurdRage!

[Pur3H4voc]

Hey Nurdrage if you substitute Potassium Hydroxide with Sodium hydroxide, you can no longer make Potassium metal because KOH is your only source of Potassium. Replacing with NaOH would change the reaction completely

[NurdRage]

@Pur3H4voc Point out where i was trying to make potassium with sodium hydroxide.

[Johnsavag]

@NurdRage Do you think Dimethylacetamide would be a good solvent? It's denser than mineral oil, high boiling point, and often used with strong bases. I don't have is a synthesis though...

[Rannyfash]

@Johnsavag if you have a good enough reflux condenser to prevent vapour from this flammable compound from igniting, at first glance i thought this wouldnt work at dissolving polar compounds because amides have to be protonated to dissolve polar compounds, then i noticed the double bonded oxygen, like acetone it may dissociate and be polar but the nitrogen may stabilise the bond, if anyone can test if hydroxides are soluble in dimethylacetamide i would be gratefull as it seems like a good idea

[nerdybrony]

@Pur3H4voc i think that the point he was making was that by replacing the potassium hydroxide with sodium hydroxide, you would be able to get a similar reaction only resulting in sodium.

[angryaznman]

@Pur3H4voc FAILLLLL

[SuperControlRoom]

dad walked in, thought it was how to make meth :P

[bishopcorva]

Awesome and I know far too dangerous for me to undertake so I'll leave it to those that know better. However it is still awesome to watch and learn.

[iskatelikeanoob]

where or how to get KOH

[miesrah12]

@iskatelikeanoob Internet

[98JMA]

@iskatelikeanoob

You can easily buy it on online, say from eBay, for making biodiesel.

[iskatelikeanoob]

@98JMA thank you

[SETHHIKARU]

This guy could probably make LSD.

[TheTrans313]

If u want to get sodium, u should burn the Mg and the NaOH

[LightProductionsTV]

muawwawa

[SmanSharp]

Hey nurdrage im new to chemistry and i am doing it as a hobby. What are some ofthe most used chemicals in your book?

[98JMA]

@SmanSharp

He hasn't written a publically available book. . .

[vladokid24]

experiment gone wrong: use all the most expensive chemicals in the world and just get sand! EPIC FAIL!!!!!!

[miesrah12]

I had a dream Nurdrage that i had to do this for a final year lab yet i am sill in high school.

[jessiebm123]

I found the tertiary amyl alch. On science company.com and it's about 1 per milliliter though with a minimum of 100 mil. With hazmat fee. Where can I get it cheaper

[bootstrap611]

NurdRage, i was wondering where you bought your tertiary-amyl?

I have all the mats needed to preform the expiriment except that.

Thanks for the help and keep making awesome videos!

[faithhahn33]

Muwhahaha!

[Dragogoel]

Hi sir, can you please make Trinitrotoluene next time . Thanks :)

[Izerion]

@Dragogoel trinitrotoluene (TNT) is actually pretty easy to make using regular aromatic nitration reactions with the nitronium ion on toluene.

The first nitration reaction happens relatively quickly and easily but the second and third will take some more time and effort.

It is very easy to look up on the internet what the precise conditions must be for the reaction to occur.

But TNT is not at all useful in the lab besides for blowing things up so I doubt it is worth making some.

[Dragogoel]

@Izerion Arr thanks... actually i wanted to make it and asked my chemistry teacher to make a few drops(as if that would hurt) but she rejected the idea without even considering it ...

so the previous request was just a kind of request. and btw i m only 15 so i don't have access to lab by myself (unfortunately)

[DeCrypedMonkey]

This is how the T1000 is made.....

[BoTFranK16]

7:11 for enjoyment

[MrSpooferpoofer]

thnx for telling a 13 year old how to burn his house down

[carbombgun]

@MrSpooferpoofer I'd like to see your 13 year old get his hands on half of those chemicals

And if he can I bet you he wouldn't burn the house down, but yet come up with his own scientific hypothesis

[98JMA]

@MrSpooferpoofer

He didn't. Almost all 13 yr olds watching this, including myself know how to handle these materials safely. You are the kind of person that gives legitimate amateur chemistry a bad name.

[SuperGary11Ans2002]

We can make Potassium by electrolysing Potassium Hydroxide

[98JMA]

@SuperGary11Ans2002

Perhaps, although the reaction conditions would be tricky and you'd have to be really careful about solvent choices.

[Atsuke]

"MUAHAHAAHA"

[CraftFinity]

Then it's prooven. Alcohol is making shit happend.

[deathtamer666]

Out of curiosity, how much water does it take to make Potassium metal to combust

[thien369852]

@deathtamer666 any amount

[SargentLimpDick]

I swear. There has to be a group that goes around disliking videos on youtube

[lorez201]

@SargentLimpDick Thank you so much for saying that.

[123unknownsoldier126]

Use it or destroy it... love this line.

[rolypoly319]

Wow u can be my chemistry teacher any day you want :D

[xneXesx1987]

So awesome.

[chanchobolando]

looks like my bong

[FartBurpSmell3000]

You can write book about how to make potassium -.-

[pipboy505]

i don't mean to say anything bad or insult you but the back ground in this video make i look like you filmed this in a crack house

[UTubeisSHIT523441]

NurdRage, you are probably the best chemistrist on youtube. Love your videos.

[GTHaroFITBMX]

to make sodium just take out the oil and heat, and then put a fuse in. light, and DIIIIIIIP(run). put oil over some water and dump in. the sodium bubbles into the oil, ready 2 be stored.

[GTHaroFITBMX]

ad in the middle of vid!? GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! no offense 2 u , just u tube.

[gogodr]

7:10 best maniac scientist laugh ever.

[69bengals69]

i hate then new thumbs up sound :\

[Zachdudeio2]

Also, how do you get tetrahydronapthalene / tertiary alcohol?

[Zachdudeio2]

Does this work for sodium? I'm not sure because this reaction seems to work due to potassium's volatility.

[warmaster5128]

can u make some and sell it i dont want to bother making it and having all the risk

[Blinkwing]

in case of sodium you might try using zinc-metal

[PapiRugby]

Hey NurdRage! If the tertiary amyl alcohol is consumed in the reaction, is it still considered a catalyst?

[NurdRage]

@PapiRugby Nope, But its not being consumed in the main reaction here, it's being consumed in a side reaction. So it is catalytic for the main reaction.

[FIFAMAN07C3]

Several months of research for 7:14 :P

[stevenliang96]

tertiary amyl alcohol is hard to find, is there a replacement catalyst that is accessible?

[NurdRage]

@stevenliang96 tertiary butanol

[stevenliang96]

@NurdRage thanks

[Aranwu]

@NurdRage where can we easily find t-butanol ? I tried searching the web and couldn't find much

[98JMA]

@stevenliang96

Try any tertiary alcohol and report back to us!

[TheSerbo92]

Hi! I got a question, maybe it's a stupid one, but i'm curious to know how can you reduce a element such as potassium that has a one of the lowest Red/Ox potential?? thanks for the answer and for the videos as well they are really instructive :)

[NurdRage]

@TheSerbo92 redox potential applies only to ions in solution. But here we're not making magnesium ions in solution exactly, we're making magnesium oxide. The energy release in that process is enough to drive the reduction of potassium hydroxide.

[mcwario13]

Look at nighthawkinlight's video of his thermite with sodium hydroxide and magnesium.

[gadgetmanjay]

now make titanium

[HUsoldier171]

@nurdrage thank you for putting this procedure into a video but i have two questions one)does the reaction have to be kept right at 200 degrees c or is anything 200 and up good because my hot plate hits 210 i believe on its highest setting but if i turn it down even a little bit it drops to 190 and two)would 91% isopropanol produce a fireball effect do to the 9% water content or not because i cant find 99% that i could get to my house soon your answer will be much appreciated(:

[MassimoC86]

Could be a viable way for long term storage to put the Potassium under mineral oil without any air (by putting the small vial inside a large container also filled with oil and letting all bubbles to escape and then closing it) and then perhaps putting the first small vial in another larger one also filled with oil?

In other words Potassium inside a vial under oil and no air inside another vial also under oil.

[pwolfe1987]

All those concerned about their ability to transport gold bars across national boundaries and the government's invasion of privacy should check out insurancefor2012.c o m. They sell apocalypse insurance at a real deal-buster price.

[tipton270]

That was an awesome maniacal lagh.

[g3ov4n12]

What's the yield?

[aussieaddict122]

Hello nurdrage, in response to why You cannot get sodium out of the reaction, I believe that it is because of how close they ar on the activity series. Displacement takes a bit longer to occur because of their relation to each other, however potassium is farther away and easier to react, hope that helps:)

[williamjpiano]

OMG the Shellsol D70 method seen on sciencemadness.IT WORKS!!!

[INeedJesusPr0s]

lol u can make a meth lab

[98JMA]

@INeedJesusPr0s

He works in a proper research lab and doesn't bother with the kewls that give legitimate amateur chemistry a bad name.

[XDecagraphX]

NO NOT THE EPICLY LARGE POTASSIUM SPHERE!!!!!

[sparsh304]

i was searchin for like this video. . . . finally i found it.... well done:)

[hawkinfilmz]

mini bombs

[TheRealKnightfall]

I love these videos, but with the voice altering I can't tell if "really cool chemistry video" or "send 1 million dollars if you ever want to see your _____ again."

[W1n5t0n20]

after getting some lithium out of the energizer battery, i noticed that mine was way more tarnished than yours was in the video (probably because it took me almost half an hour to get the lithium once i got the release valve off) and i was wondering if there was any way to remove the tarnish from the lithium like you did with the silver

[PyroDesu]

So my question is, how would you extinguish a potassium fire?

Do you just have to wait until all of the potassium involved is finished burning?

[JaiNobesIsARat]

@PyroDesu For alkaline metals IIRC they reccomend perfectly dry sand that's stored with sillica gel or another drying agent. Or a class D fire extinguisher. Correct me if I'm wrong, someone.

[98JMA]

@PyroDesu

Yes . . .although a much better alternative is to get a class D fire extinguisher.

[UnicornStarShip]

I think that was one of your best videos yet!

[GameGuyLithuania]

I think he does know how to make drugs.. :)

[DDBAAS]

im not an nerd bro

[HomeChemistJohn]

Hello doctor Butyl,

I have two more questions:

1st where can I get t-butanol ?

2nd I know it sounds like suicide, but would it be possible to get potassium via electrolysis of molten potasium chloride ?

[ApertureScience27]

So I'm guessing the tertiary amyl alcohol is a very strong reducing agent?

[Zuluwhishkey]

NurdRage,

You made a typo on tetrahydronaphtalene.

[pheenix42]

As I'm not familiar with its' uses, (I only work in printing)might I ask what use potassium has in this form?

I've enjoyed watching everything!

[glenwoofit]

Great Video, I've about 20 grams under oil that has changed colour to the Black Oxide is there a way to remove this oxide safely or is cutting it off the only option. Ive had this for about 5 years. You said it becomes shock sensitive but by how much? Would cutting the oxide off start the reaction? Any info would be greatfully received.....

[xRaIDeNx69]

Awesome video!

Most have taken you a ton of work :O

[favoredsoul1977]

Nurdrage, really great video. I'm not sure if you've been asked this before (concerning the ROH-catalyst formation of K), but do you have a rough estimate of a yield?

I think it isn't as neat and "clean" as molten salt electrolysis, but it's always good to have a reference for comparisons.

[seregion]

alchemy.. :D

[micPyro]

its possible to make this:

Al+3NaOH --> Al(OH)3+3Na

Im shure im wrong because i have only a half jear chemestry jet :)

[98JMA]

@micPyro

No. You would get sodium aluminate and hydrogen.

[brandon35335]

YEAAHH IM AWESOME *dumps potassium in water heater*

[ambarigreyson3000]

i wish his vids were longer.....

[supersaper3]

Great video Nurd Rage! I'm a long time watcher of your videos and I also have an element collection. One question: I did want long term storage of potassium, would the ampoule need to be sealed in a glovebox/inert atmosphere to prevent oxygen from entering the ampoule? Or would the small amount of air that would be trapped in the ampoule be negligible? (I would have mineral oil in the ampoule as well)

[NurdRage]

@supersaper3 A tiny amount of air sealed in i think would be negligible in terms of long term storage safety. But you might not like it since that air would discolor the potassium.

[wb5rue]

@NurdRage I know that Potassium will react with CO2 (you can't put out a fire with CO2 but can "cold" Potassium be stored under dry CO2 without a reaction?

[brandon35335]

@supersaper3 do you own any radioactive elements?

[supersaper3]

@brandon35335 I do have a sample of americium, and bismuth is technically radioactive as well. I will be getting some other samples (radium and barium) soon.

[brandon35335]

@supersaper3 do you have a lead box where you keep these in?

[supersaper3]

@brandon35335 not necessary for americium, it only gives off alpha particles, which can't penetrate the skin.

[brandon35335]

@supersaper3 k

[s0m0c]

What a perfect sphere!

[kcsj9000]

Could you please tell us that how the alcohol catalyze the reaction. Is there a accepted mechanism for this?

[chopperchuck]

cool videos but how do you know what the end result will be