Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Alternatives to paraffin

Panache - 1-6-2021 at 03:19

Hello all,
Has anyone used any alternatives to paraffin for storing sodium metal under?

if so what and how?
i'm going to try argon overnight unless someone has a fantastic alternative..

Sulaiman - 1-6-2021 at 04:40

Gasoline?
(not tried personally - obvious hazard but if nothing else...)
I guess argon is safer :)

[Edited on 1-6-2021 by Sulaiman]

teodor - 1-6-2021 at 04:41

Xylene, ether.

Texium - 1-6-2021 at 05:37

I wouldn’t recommend ether (too volatile).

teodor - 1-6-2021 at 06:05

Quote: Originally posted by Texium  
I wouldn’t recommend ether (too volatile).


I keep it in a freezer at -18C. Also there are other ethers with higher boiling point.

Probably Xylene should be better for long-term storage but low-grade xylene requires some purification before putting sodium inside.

[Edited on 1-6-2021 by teodor]

Praxichys - 1-6-2021 at 06:58

Quote: Originally posted by Sulaiman  
Gasoline?
Considering most gas these days is at least 10% ethanol, there would likely be violence involved with mixing these two.

Mineral oil is the best choice and is found in many forms. It is sold at most drugstores as a laxative and can be found in large quantities online for the same use but for veterinary purposes on large animals. On Amazon it's about 20 bucks for a gallon.

Odorless mineral spirits would be a good second choice, as would kerosene, heating oil, lamp oil, and many high-boiling naphthas intended for parts cleaning like ShellSol D60-D100, Exxsol D series, Safety-Kleen solvent, etc.

As a last resort, nondetergent 30-weight motor oil would work, or camping fuel if you don't mind the volatility. Sometimes you can find vacuum pump oil at auto shops which would also work.

Fyndium - 1-6-2021 at 08:00

Paraffin oil is available everywhere cheap, so is there a specific reason not to use it? For human use, it usually costs multitudes more than what it is sold for wood treatment, etc.

Metacelsus - 1-6-2021 at 08:04

Quote: Originally posted by teodor  
Quote: Originally posted by Texium  
I wouldn’t recommend ether (too volatile).


I keep it in a freezer at -18C. Also there are other ethers with higher boiling point.


WARNING!

Be ABSOLUTELY SURE your freezer is spark-free before storing flammable chemicals (especially ether) in it! Otherwise explosions can result.

Texium - 1-6-2021 at 08:07

Quote: Originally posted by teodor  
Also there are other ethers with higher boiling point.
Well, yes, but typically saying "ether" without qualifiers implies the diethyl variety.

Mateo_swe - 2-6-2021 at 05:45

The unperfumed baby oil for sensitive babys is pure mineral oil and found evrywhere.

Panache - 4-6-2021 at 05:59

Quote: Originally posted by Fyndium  
Paraffin oil is available everywhere cheap, so is there a specific reason not to use it? For human use, it usually costs multitudes more than what it is sold for wood treatment, etc.


Just convenience at the time, we were in hard lockdown, nothing was open and it was 11pm.
The argon has worked a treat so much so it remains shiny several days afterwards. I used a polypropylene tuperware type container with oring snap seals, ran argon into it for about twenty seconds, placed the sodium lump in that i had just cut, it consumed the large part of the containers capacity, snapped the lid on.
i kept expecting it to turn that characteristic bottom of a public trash can galvanised mottled grey but it stays shiny!! argon works better than paraffin

Texium - 4-6-2021 at 06:44

Due to diffusion of the gas, you’ll still likely have to flush it with argon every so often. Paraffin that has been degassed by bubbling argon through would probably be a better bet for long term storage.

FrenchChemist - 12-7-2021 at 04:11

turpentine works for me