Re: (ATM) Chemical preparation of rouge from common ingredients

[Jim Mason <jmason@portage1.portup.com>]

At 01:51 PM 10/4/95 GMT, you wrote:
>
>Unable to find a source of rouge or an affordable source of 
>ferrous oxalate (as recommended by Texereau for making rouge), I 
>have been digging through my outdated chemistry texts (you know, 
>the ones with the dangerous stuff left in) and I found this 
>recipe.
>
>Half fill a beaker (pyrex bowl, glass coffee carafe) with dilute 
>sulphuric acid (about 20%, ie old battery acid).  Add a quantity 
>of iron filings (a handful of small nails will do) and heat to 
>near boiling.  Hydrogen gas is evolved (ventilate).
>
>Keep adding iron and heating until no more will dissolve and no 
>more gas is given off.  Filter the solution while still hot and 
>allow to cool, when crystals of green vitriol (ferrous sulphate) 
>will form.
>
>Remove the ferrous sulphate crystals and heat in a iron pan.  
>They will first give off water and turn white, then they will 
>give off pungent fumes of sulphur dioxide and sulpher trioxide 
>and leave behind a red powder, which is rouge. 
>
>--
>Iolo Davidson
>
 i would advise not to follow thru with this.  the hydrogen gas
given off is extremly dangerous (remember the hindenberg?).
the slightest spark( from the vent fan), or flame could cause the gas to 'bump'.
(same reason you use care when jump starting a car. the spark
caused by attaching/dettaching  the cable to/from  the battery
being charged can cause an amazing explosion).   the sulphric
acid at that concentration is capable of extensive chemical burns.
the sulphur dioxide and sulpher tiroxide fumes should not be inhaled.
and the resulting rouge would then have to be ground and refined
to be of any use.

having said that a better source of iron would be steel wool or iron 
filings.  (when you blow up, don't blame me)
jm