Sciencemadness Discussion Board

If it's a chemical, it must be an explosive

malcolmf - 21-12-2012 at 08:12

Heard in the local news this afternoon:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-2081203...

While he has dubious methods of reagent acquisition (theft), I don't see what explosives have to do with it.

Vargouille - 21-12-2012 at 08:46

I think the BBC was just being a bit wonky today, and didn't explain it well. The arson charge is something he did, and he also stole some chemicals. I don't think the BBC means to imply that he stole the chemicals specifically for the arson, but that's giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Pyro - 21-12-2012 at 08:46

or an illicit drug!
nothing i think, now if it was nitric and sulfuric acid, then that charge is little more ligit.

gutter_ca - 21-12-2012 at 09:16

Quote: Originally posted by Vargouille  
I think the BBC was just being a bit wonky today, and didn't explain it well. The arson charge is something he did, and he also stole some chemicals. I don't think the BBC means to imply that he stole the chemicals specifically for the arson, but that's giving them the benefit of the doubt.


FTFA: "An 18-year-old man from the Forest of Dean has pleaded guilty to possessing explosive materials..."

Vargouille - 21-12-2012 at 11:52

Yes, I'm aware. That's what he would have used for the arson. You left out the bit about it being "at a court hearing", which isn't very important until you read "At a previous hearing, Lee, of School Road, admitted the theft of the chemicals, shoplifting and failure to surrender to bail." which implies, if not outright states, that the chemicals stolen and the explosive materials possessed are not the same. After all, he set fire to a railway carriage for some reason, and I don't believe that you can do that with sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and potassium cyanide alone.

hissingnoise - 21-12-2012 at 12:40

Concrete needing cleaning, steel pickling and gold extracting . . . ?

wild guess

SM2 - 21-12-2012 at 14:13

My guess envision is a hefty proton machine looking for strained nitrogens. the little swabs are just like drug tests, except,
'have we had any gunpowder in your green tea this morning, sir?"


Gunpowder Green Tea - pun

what I mean, they are looking for to specific moietys, my guess. kill several birds w/ one stone, and new birds who haven't been born yet. Like yellow peeps - my favorite. Several different antigens on the strips.

[Edited on 21-12-2012 by Fennel Ass Ih Tone]

[Edited on 21-12-2012 by Fennel Ass Ih Tone]

Nickbb - 27-12-2012 at 19:59

Quote: Originally posted by hissingnoise  
Concrete needing cleaning, steel pickling and gold extracting . . . ?


Maybe it was an arsonist who also happened to need to clean his driveway, pickle some steel, and extract some gold after he set fire to some trains; He probably didn't have enough money to afford those chemicals though.

barley81 - 27-12-2012 at 20:56

Stealing KCN and acids? Sounds like he might have planned to commit a murder or something!