Natural Piezoelectric Effect May Build Gold Deposits

Post by HappySweeney » Sun, Sep 08, 2024, 12:16 AM UTC

pfdietz wrote: post #20

lukan wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, closer to alchemy is the actual creation of gold from other elements with nuclear physics. Was demonstrated quite a long time ago, but is not really practical to get meaningful quantities out of it. (That is why I always prefered physics over chemistry - my chemistry book in school started with the story of the alchimists and concluded that they were bound to fail as gold cannot be created . And in my physics boo…

> No, closer to alchemy is the actual creation of gold from other elements with nuclear physics. The place where this happens is in the liquid mercury target of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge. Here, high energy protons shatter (spall) mercury nuclei, producing fragments that can include gold. An uncommon isotope of mercury can also be converted to gold by neutron capture.

Post by lazide » Sun, Sep 08, 2024, 6:46 AM UTC

djtango wrote: post #24

lazide wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aqua Regia is relatively normal in the sense that being threatened with a knife is relatively normal. If you think it is, you’re probably hanging out in a pretty bad neighborhood. But yeah, most people won’t be surprised it exists.

Well I'd argue getting threatened with a knife is relatively normal in London but that's off topic :) Aqua regia is not particularly exotic as compared with all the fancy ways you can harm yourself or react things in Chemistry. You can probably prepare it at home using stuff that might be buyable over the counter. Getting your hands on things like azides or Polonium 210 or having access to a nuclear reactor to do ad…

Post by djtango » Thu, Sep 12, 2024, 3:29 AM UTC

lazide wrote: post #33

djtango wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well I'd argue getting threatened with a knife is relatively normal in London but that's off topic :) Aqua regia is not particularly exotic as compared with all the fancy ways you can harm yourself or react things in Chemistry. You can probably prepare it at home using stuff that might be buyable over the counter. Getting your hands on things like azides or Polonium 210 or having access to a nuclear reactor to do ad…

For sure! Cleaning solution, you’re thinking Piranha solution probably. Aqua Regia definitely isn’t exotic (same as getting threatened with a knife), but also isn’t going to be nice to be around, and getting ‘cut’ is pretty easy if you don’t pay attention. And either one are frowned upon at most dinner parties. At least the ones I’ve been to, but I try not to judge ;)