He had forgotten (or never knew) the old saying that keeps you out of trouble when mixing acids and water: Add acid to wata just like you oughta... He added water to acid and got a spectacular event. I am not a chemist, so all you chemists out there, correct me if wrong. Mat -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+mat.hutchings=siemens.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+mat.hutchings=siemens.com@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Larry Holmes Sent: Monday, October 28, 2013 7:55 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Journey to the 1.8 meter On 10/28/2013 5:29 PM, Dale Hooper wrote:
Hi Chuck,
I think a while ago you mentioned that Mike was silvering the mirror since it was too big to put in a chamber. When I was in high school I ground a mirror and I believe I used silver nitrate and hydrochloric acid in a process to silver the small mirror (I've forgotten most of the details - but I still remember "do what ya oughter - add the acid to the water. :)" ).
Not on the subject of astronomy, but your remark reminded me of an industrial accident a number of years ago. I had sold an 18' dia FRP tank for mixing HCL & water. A new employee filled the tank about 1/3, or more full of HCL, then opened a 6" water line into the tank. The mix started exotherming, and the employee was standing there listening to the whistling noise of the vent. A foreman rushed over, grabbed the employee, and ran to safety. The tank built up so much pressure inside that it blew apart at the knuckle (bottom joint at the floor). The base was bolted to concrete, so it stayed in place, but the tank shot up like a rocket, about a story and a half, where it made contact with a metal grating floor, and fell back to the floor, almost, but not quite, exactly on the base. Next tank had a 48" dia vent! A simple interlock system would have prevented it. 73 _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Send messages to the list to Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. To unsubscribe go to: http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on "Unsubscribe or edit options". This message and any attachments are solely for the use of intended recipients. The information contained herein may include trade secrets, protected health or personal information, privileged or otherwise confidential information. Unauthorized review, forwarding, printing, copying, distributing, or using such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you received this email in error, and that any review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this email and any attachment is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please contact the sender and delete the message and any attachment from your system. Thank you for your cooperation