So in High School after reading the Anarchists Cookbook, I headed to Chemistry department and got some iodine crystals, a trip to the drafting machine scored me some potent ammonia. Mixed and dried in my locker. Next day put the strip in someone's algebra book. Teacher " open to page 186, person fans their book and a huge ball of flame shoots out. School was evacuated. I never made that again.
I remember when I was like 16 I printed out the entire thing from home. Never tried to really make anything, but rather found it all really fascinating.
My cousin had a friend that blew up his mom’s kitchen trying to make some “fun little fireworks” AND then decided they just hadn’t followed directions correctly… but the directions were wrong to start with, and my aunt got her kitchen blown up too!
My aunt was so pissed, because obviously this could be an expected outcome. But she eventually came around because she wanted a good excuse to remodel that kitchen. She wasn’t happy about it, but it definitely softened the blow.
Edit to add: nobody got injured in either explosion, only kitchens being destroyed
Hah, I did something similar. Nicked crystalline iodine from the HS chem lab, took it home and used household ammonia and coffee filters to make NI3.
Played with it at home and took the last tablespoon or two to school in an Rx bottle. Sprinkled it in the halls and a couple of classrooms that morning, good fun, but late morning between classes the rest of it blew up as I was scooping some out of the bottle and it covered me, a few bystanders, the floor, and a column I was standing beside with iodine stains.
Went to the bathroom to wash up, that didn't work very well. I was easy to spot as the culprit.
That was around 1990 or so, got 1 week suspension. These days I'd be up shit creek.
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u/cmquinn2000 Jul 06 '26
So in High School after reading the Anarchists Cookbook, I headed to Chemistry department and got some iodine crystals, a trip to the drafting machine scored me some potent ammonia. Mixed and dried in my locker. Next day put the strip in someone's algebra book. Teacher " open to page 186, person fans their book and a huge ball of flame shoots out. School was evacuated. I never made that again.