mix "the works" toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil together in 2 liter drink bottle, put cap on, get away from and wait

How I did it: Mix aluminum foil rolled up into little pellets with hydrochloric acid in the works toilet cleaner. Cap it and wait a few seconds for the acid to get past the thin but tenacious oxide layer on the aluminium and KABOOM!!! The hydrogen gas produced in the reaction builds up inside the bottle to such a pressure as to cause the bottle to rupture and create a bang that will surely shake up the block. However, doing such things may lead to arrest by local police and temporary time in jail for disturbing the peace. There are other ways of making bottles explode like dry ice + water or chlorine tablets and alcohol. Either way, there are better ways to waste one's life like getting high or helping humanity develop a better iPhone 3G. 

Lessons & tips: Toxic chemicals will probably splash on your hands or eyes, so protection is essential, though it won't kill you. Also since I was an AP Chemistry student last year, the main  reaction is 2Al + 6HCl -> 2AlCl3 + 3H2 one of the end products is hydrogen gas which is explosively flammable. If a torch is lit near the bottle prior to explosion, then a fireball my ensue the blast. Add table salt to the mix to give the flame a bright yellow color or add copper salts to give it a vivid green color.

Resources: Internet, friends

Nov 06, 2008, 11:11PM PST | 0 comments