Caesium- price

[lovejoy0120]

I was told that the price of Caesium is $37.5 per gram (roughly) but how come they're selling it for $375 for 5g roughly on Goodfellow.com.Does anyone have a pricelist for any other alkali metals from sodium onwards and is that price fair ?
Thanks

P.S : Does anyone know of any fun experiments with chemicals you can buy on www.kno3.com and any fun experiments with alkali metal derivatives ?

[theprof]

I'm uncertain if you're in the UK or elsewhere, because of your mention of dollars. I'm also not familiar with the websites you mention. Either way, take the option to "browse catalogue" on the left side of the screen on the Fisher Scientific website:

http://www.fisher.co.uk/

Type "caesium" into the "Keywords/Chemical Name/ Structure" box and click "search". Work through the list until you reach caesium as the element. You should be able to convert to dollars easily if you need too. Move on to look for sodium etc.

This website will give you an idea of the current market price without being ripped off. However, they won't supply you with anything unless you have bona-fide credentials detailing the purpose to which their products will be used and the nature of your work. They will not supply private individuals.

As to fun experiments with "alkali metal derivatives", I seriously advise you to forget it. You're putting yourself in great danger.

[lovejoy0120]

Sorry for being a bit vague.I searched up 'caesium' in wikipedia and I got a price in Dollars.www.goodfellow.com was the site I was recomended also gives prices in dollars.www.kno3.com is based in Manchester .
I know what I'm undertaking .I've seen videos of the reactions of potassium,rubidium and caesium before and I intend to use these for my own personal use.Sorry if I sound a bit suspicious.

[theprof]

Hmm. What can I say?

Apart from caesium, it seems that you could place an order with Goodfellows for thallium and uranium if you so desired. Do you really think they would supply you with a deadly poison and a radioactive element with no questions asked?

Attempts by individuals to acquire many chemicals nowadays is notifiable to the authorities to prevent terrorist attacks and idiots possessing dangerous stuff. It's for that very reason that you don't see your neighbour walking down the street juggling lumps of uranium - it's what keeps the rest of us safe. Anyhow, item number 1.2 in Goodfellows conditions of sale should reduce the likelihood of sale to non bona-fide individuals with goverment regulations doing the rest. Somehow, I don't think Goodfellows would be keen to be prosecuted.

The other site you mention's website shows it clearly as a dodgy supplier. They are obviously prepared to supply anyone with anything with no questions asked. Thanks for making me aware of the company - they'll shortly be revising their catalogue or closing down.

Videos will not have shown you the whole picture. Did they show you the potassium hydroxide (caustic potash) that is thrown off thesurface of the water during the reaction? Did they show you the burns suffered by the experimenter? Do you "know what your undertaking" solely on the basis of the videos?

[lovejoy0120]

Yes I have fully read the Material Safety Sheet and I fully understand the risk of digestion tract harm through inhilation,damage to skin and other harmful effects.I understand 'Professor' that you wear proper protective clothing and use adequate safety equipment.How else could scientists do it anyway.How on earth would goodfellows be able to supply uranium and why ? Nuclear plants get their own somewhere and who else would be allowed buy it ?
Are you some health and safety guy.Why would you want to shut kno3 down ? No offence meant but what power do you have to get them to revise their catologue or to shut them down ?I'll report anymore dodgy suppliers of chemicals etc. to you.Could you tell me how to identify dodgy companies.Good job they dont sell alkali metals.Joe Soap still could make a H bomb though.....

[theprof]

You ask "How else could scientists do it anyway". Let me ask you: Don't you know? Don't you think that the sentence you've written might make people think you're not as experienced as you wish us to know?

Using these elements, is more than just reading the data sheets and wearing protective clothing. Experience in handling them and training is called for to prevent serious accidents happening in the first place. Do you have that training and experience?

If Goodfellows were prepared to supply you with caesium do you think they'd stop short of supplying you with uranium if you asked? It would be just as irresponsible for them to do so, because it seems you have no experience of handling either. The reality is that it would not matter if you contracted radiation poisoning or burnt a whole in your hand with an alkali metal. It still shows irresponsibility and that's why the regulations are in place.

You clearly don't know where nuclear plants "get" their uranium from. Is this typical of your knowledge of chemistry? Funnily enough, lots of people are allowed to buy uranium as long as its for research purposes including me as I am a professor and I do use it in minute quantities in my own field. (Not from Goodfellows though)

I'm not a H and S guy just a learned individual. You identify dodgy companies by fictitious addresses, tales of buying large quantities of chemicals to sell on in smaller quantities, poor facilities( lokk at the photo), and a guarantee of anonymity for purchasers and that's only a start with KNO3. By the way, you know what KNO3 is I take it? And yes, joe soap does make bombs through underground chemical purchases although not generally H-bombs. Do you know what a H-Bomb is?

My power? I also work for the UK government. Time to pull some strings for the safety of the great british public

[theprof]

Incidentally, with regard to Goodfellows being able to supply uranium, it's simple - it's in their catalogue just like caesium and presumably, could be ordered in the same way at the same time.

Don't ask me about the reasons for them marketing it. I've got no idea right now. All the same, if it's in the catalogue, I assume they must be supplying it to bona-fide organisations with the correct safety and handling equipment and the necessary licences regarding usage and disposal.

Do you have such expertise? Do you have the expertise to handle alkali metals? Methinks we all know the answer.

It's your funeral.

[MagMonkey]

TheProf,

Would you mind elaborating on what power you have to shut kno3.com down?

I'm asking because various law enforcement agencies have been aware of this company and its practises for quite some time now, and it is still operating, unlike similar 'businesses' supplying pre-cursors to the public which have been shut down by the same authorities.

Seems plausible to me that it is being kept open for information gathering purposes/entrapment. Do you agree?

Thanks, and good luck trying to find them!

[lovejoy0120]

hmmm....since thats a bit too dangerous I think some Lithium in water wouldn't go astray.Back to fun and safe science experiments.Then after a Phd in Chemistry Potassium,Caesium and Rubidium.You h and s guys sure make life boring for everyonne.Have you tried introducing lifejackets for olympic swimmers yet ?Anyway want to come round and check on my neighbours substantial stash of fireworks ?

[lovejoy0120]

Somehow even if you were experienced uranium sounds dangerous.Care blowing up Switzerland for me ?

[MagMonkey]

Hey theprof - you still around? I'm very interested to hear your reply to my post.

[theprof]

MagMonkey. Apologies for the delay in posting. I thought the thread was dead after almost 10 days without a reply from lovejoy0120.

I'm a scientist, government advisor and university professor. Part of my job involves working at various "defence" sites. We have an excellent relationship with police and other law enforcement agencies as you put it and things do tend to get investigated and actioned when we request. Now although I'm not an expert in explosives, there are people working in this research station that are world authorities. I'll leave the rest of the thinking to you, but you should be able to guess what happens when we report suspicious matters and how quickly they happen.

Incidentally, I've seen an "official" report on kno3.com since my last post and it makes fascinating reading. I have to keep the contents to myself unfortunately. Good luck is not needed in trying to find them. Their location is known and I don't mean the addresses on their website or containers.

(continued)

[theprof]

lovejoy0120, you're not paying attention are you? I said in an earlier post that I was not a H&S guy as you put it. I've revealed who I am above. I've got two Phd and higher degrees and in terms of practical knowledge, they're about as useful as a chocolate teapot. Phd's don't give you the knowledge necessary to handle dangerous chemicals as their too restricted. Lab technicians know more in that respect. The only other people that have as much knowledge as lab technicians are scientists who deal with stuff as part of their job. Guess what? That's me.

You're showing off you're lack of knowledge again lovejoy0120. You'll find it impossible to obtain or even look at a sample of Rubidium as it's one of the rarest metals. I've only seen the element twice and then it was locked in a vault. Lifejackets are something for the Olympic Commitee.
The police do a good job of checking fireworks, just like they'll be on hand for you if you ever got hurt by one.

Uranium is dangerous enough although its far from being the most dangerous element. Why would you want to blow up Switzerland? I think the country's great. I love the skiing and how would we manage without their cuckoo clocks? German ones aren't the same.

[lovejoy0120]

as a child i loved them .watch your mouth . i'm smarter in other areas . think before you speak.and where would this vault be ?
in the black orf ur black market shop ?