Guess the Chemical?

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

I like the story in Adam Kay's book 'This is going to hurt' – about the common garden plant so dangerous that to even just sit under it for 10 minutes can be fatal!

The plant – a water lily of course

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I seem to remember being told that water has killed more people than anything else.

Roy

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by JA on 29/07/2019 23:34:56:

Posted by Howard Lewis on 29/07/2019 22:37:46:

water is safe if drunk in accordance with the safety instructions, and in the right spirit, I am told.

Howard

Whisky?

I drink it neat.

Edited By JA on 29/07/2019 23:36:49

Even neat whiskey contains a lot of water. 70% proof (the old unit for strength) was related to the navy rum ration -which was tested by the crew by seeing if it would burn. If it did, that was “100% proof” that the bulk supply had not been diluted with water. Less than that and the key-holder to the stores likely walked the plank! On that scale pure alcohol was “200% proof”. We now use ABV (Alcohol By Volume) as the measure of alcohol in a drink. Most whisky is 37.5% ABV?

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I have a bottle +1/2 of Highland Park 100% proof, excellent spirit.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by KWIL on 30/07/2019 10:52:33:

I have a bottle +1/2 of Highland Park 100% proof, excellent spirit.

Probably excellent – for some. You can clearly check that it is 100% Proof by testing if it will burn in the glass.

I believe the later proof system changed to pure alcohol being 180% Proof, but not totally sure on that.

Most spirits on sale will not burn from the glass – could be dangerous as alcohol burns with a colourless flame.

The usual safety precaution, by those who home distill alcohol, is a container of water at the ready to flood the floor in the event of a spillage and fire. Once diluted below the ‘burn point’, the fire will be extinguished – as long as nothing else has already ignited

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