Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Karen L. Black wrote:
> I'm not a chemist, but I've had some training along those lines. Besides, a
> physicist is supposed to have the 30,000-foot view of chemistry (and all
> other sciences), so I'd be happy to take a stab at Bill's questions.

Thanks for stepping up and taking the heat off of me, Karen.  I had 
forgotten that you were a physicist..have I told you lately that I love 
you??? ;) LOL


> Bill Jones writes:
> > OK, I've put you in suspense.  Here's a hint: uranium (a metal) has a
> hexa*fluoride.  IOW, six atoms of fluorine (the non-metal) and one of
> uranium can form a "salt" together.  If you look inside the cover of
> your CRC manual, you'll see that this is pretty rare among the
> elements.  I think only chromium can do this.  Well, now look beyond
> uranium to the first three man-made elements.  They can also have a
> charge of +6.
> ***********************************************************************
> Looking at my CRC manual (doesn't *everyone* have a _Handbook of Chemistry
> and Physics_ laying about her house? :-)), I see that chromium's columnar
> neighbors, molybdenum and tungsten, also have a +6 oxidation state. So do
> technetium, rhenium, sulfur, selenium, and tellurium. It's unusual, but not
> all that rare. Now +7, that is rare -- only iodine, technetium and rhenium
> achieve that lofty level of ionization.
>
> Bill continues:
> > Now, I've been asked to accept on faith that the _first_ sustained
> nuclear fission occurred at the U. of Chicago during the early 20th
> century (other than those which have occurred spontaneously in nature, a
> fascinating but extremely rare event).  If you simply question this
> notion, it leaves open the possibility that someone long ago found this
> signpost and sent a warning to future generations.
> **********************************************************
>
> I don't quite follow. Are you saying that the "number of the beast" is a
> warning not to stack bricks of uranium metal too closely?
>
> > From what I've seen, it might as easily be a warning not to inhale sulfur
> fumes, eat locoweed, or try synthesizing technetium.

LOL...I had to read it a couple of times because I didn't get it on the 
first try either...lol..but I think he was saying something to the 
effect that nuclear weapons/power was the beast...at least that's what I 
got.
BTW folks, I DON'T have a CRC...those things cost $$$$$...

Bev


--
EarthNSky Farm   Somewhere in the ocean's depths, MY son is protecting 
OUR freedom.   He's only 19, and his sub won't be back until 7/29/07.