Re: mystery powder

On Sun, 11 May 2008 14:17:58 +0100, "John Dean"
<john-dean@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>I'm guessing your tingly tinkly twinkly powder is towards the end of
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTwEuMzpxHk&feature=related
>
>Roughly at 7:58
>
>The powder looks orange to me, and it turns black as it burns with little

>spangly fireworky glittery eruptions

The orange color of the powder and the buildup of a pile of dark-green
reaction product that's much larger than the original pile of powder
are a dead giveaway for potassium dichromate.  Before the age of
safety paranoia, it was common to light a pile of the stuff in school
to simulate the evolution of a volcanic cinder cone.  The effect is
very lifelike and impressive.