Cou
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I may have just discovered a way to kill termites...
Weirdest thing happened overnight. I was extracting acetylsalicylic acid from aspirin tablets. I dissolved 8 325mg tablets in about 20 mL of 99%
isopropyl alcohol, filtered out the binders and fillers for a pure acetylsalicylic acid solution, and left a cup on the windowsill for the isopropyl
alcohol to evaporate.
I came back the next day, and there were 20 dead termites floating in the cup! As well as a few termites walking around the area that weren't there
before. Do you think the isopropyl alcohol attracted the termites, due to its sweet smell, and the aspirin killed them?
[Edited on 7-4-2016 by Cou]
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Fegie
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Quote: Originally posted by Cou  | Weirdest thing happened overnight. I was extracting acetylsalicylic acid from aspirin tablets. I dissolved 8 325mg tablets in about 20 mL of 99%
isopropyl alcohol, filtered out the binders and fillers for a pure acetylsalicylic acid solution, and left a cup on the windowsill for the isopropyl
alcohol to evaporate.
I came back the next day, and there were 20 dead termites floating in the cup! As well as a few termites flying around the area that weren't there
before. Do you think the isopropyl alcohol attracted the termites, due to its sweet smell, and the aspirin killed them? |
Sounds like even termites die when you drink and take your morning meds you forgot to take...
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100PercentChemistry
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I just use hairspray.
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macckone
Dispenser of practical lab wisdom
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If you have that many termites you probably want to get the house fumigated.
Formosa termites can eat an entire house in about three years and make it
structural unsound in months.
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phlogiston
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I once spilled a very small amount of lamp oil on a table. The next morning, there was a dense layer of small insects stuck in the layer of oil. All
the bugs where from the same species, so I am speculating that one of the components of the oil acts as a pheromone or resembles a marker of
‘food’ to that species.
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"If a rocket goes up, who cares where it comes down, that's not my concern said Wernher von Braun" - Tom Lehrer |
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Mabus
Wiki Master
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| Quote: Originally posted by Cou | Weirdest thing happened overnight. I was extracting acetylsalicylic acid from aspirin tablets. I dissolved 8 325mg tablets in about 20 mL of 99%
isopropyl alcohol, filtered out the binders and fillers for a pure acetylsalicylic acid solution, and left a cup on the windowsill for the isopropyl
alcohol to evaporate.
I came back the next day, and there were 20 dead termites floating in the cup! As well as a few termites walking around the area that weren't there
before. Do you think the isopropyl alcohol attracted the termites, due to its sweet smell, and the aspirin killed them?
[Edited on 7-4-2016 by Cou] |
I'm pretty sure the isopropanol itself killed the termites. I remember like 10-12 years ago when made an insect collection, I used to kill bugs by
dumping them in a glass with rectified spirit, which killed them instantly. I don't think the aspirin has much effect on their death.
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Texium
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Thread Moved
8-4-2016 at 12:34 |
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