HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: kvry@troi.cc.rochester.edu (Kevin Ryan)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: Re: Making Pickles Glow
Date: 22 Jul 92 15:03:04 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)


	Yes.  I tried it.  I went right home and cut the plug off an
old aquarium pump that had little chance of being needed any time soon,
picked out a fat kosher dill (Wegmen's brand), nailed the ends of the
wires into each end of the pickle, and plugged it in.  The effect was
interesting.  There seemed to be two phases to the "glowing" one which
was the hot spots next to each wire, which glowed bight orange and
*alternated* from one end of the pickle to the other (but never both
at the same time).  The other phase seemed to be a faint bluish glow
in the middle of the pickle, but I was not certain that this wasn't
just a refelction of the brighter ends.  I decided that the pickle I
was using was too large, and will try it again with a smaller one, or
a slice next time.
From: giber@pollux.cs.uga.edu (Carolyn Giberson)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: will this cause a fire?
Date: 24 Jul 92 12:05:36 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens
Originator: giber@pollux


This may delve into the area of forensic chemistry, but here goes.  
A police department in north Georgia is investigating a suspicious
fire.  They suspect that the fire (trying to burn a mobile home)
may have been started by mixing powdered calcium hypochlorite and
a wood preservative (described only as "volatile", so I assume it
is based on a flammable solvent -- hydrocarbon? acetone?).  My
questions are:

1.  Would these substances be expected to react spontaneously to
    cause a fire, an explosion, both, or neither?

2.  Would another agent (even as simple as water?) be needed to
    cause this to happen?

3.  Under what conditions would this be likely to occur (i.e., in
    a sealed container, simple mixing, etc.)?

4.  What time interval might be involved between mixing the chemicals
    and the eventual reaction (i.e., time to set up an alibi?)?

Any information/suggestions/opionions on this would be greatly
appreciated.  Please post your response to this news group or
email me directly -- giber@pollux.cs.uga.edu.

Thanks!
Carolyn Giberson
University of Georgia
From: cs_jh@cox.nsac.ns.ca (JEFF HOYLE)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: More on moderator
Date: 23 Jul 92 00:35:15 GMT
Organization: Nova Scotia AC

Just so everyone knows......

My posting concerning a moderator was basically shot to pieces.  In all 8 
people replied either to the newsgroup or to me by email.  All indicated 
that they would vote AGAINST any form of moderation (no pun 
intended !!!).  It seems that the discussion that I thought should not be in 
sci.chem has gone away anyway!!

The problem that I see with a newsgroup like this one is that it is hard to 
get chemists who are newbie computer users to access the newsgroup and get 
involved when they see totally irrelevant discussions going on.  It just 
seems to scare new users off!!!!  I have tried several times to get 
colleagues to be involved with the group and this is one of the common 
comments that I get from them.........

Does anyone have any suggestions?  I think that there are alot of good 
questions being asked that require more input from practicing chemists to 
help out.....  How do we get these people involved in a meaningful way with 
out putting them off (as I indicated above).

One possibility I suppose would be the formation of another newsgroup 
(sci.chemistry or something similar)

I really would like to see this thing working .....

I await the inevitable.................

  ***********************************************************
  * Dr Jeff Hoyle (Organic Chemist)                         *
  * Chemistry and Soil Science Department                   *
  * Nova Scotia Agricultural College    FAX: (902)-895-4547 *                     *
  * P.O. Box 550, TRURO,              Voice: (902)-893-6630 *
  * Nova Scotia. CANADA  B2N  5E3                           *  
  *                  -----------------                      * 
  * Internet: cs_jh@cox.nsac.ns.ca  OR  jh_cs@ac.nsac.ns.ca *
  ***********************************************************
Xref: sparky sci.chem:2747 sci.bio:2732 sci.engr:1850 soc.college:3466 soc.college.grad:1616
From: eia018@comp.lancs.ac.uk (Mr.A.Wilson)
Newsgroups: sci.chem,sci.bio,sci.engr,soc.college,soc.college.grad
Subject: Re: Getting a PhD without being a grad student
Date: 23 Jul 92 14:05:11 GMT
Organization: Department of Linguistics at Lancaster University, UK.

In article <1992Jul23.005506.10879@massey.ac.nz> A.S.Chamove@massey.ac.nz (A.S. Chamove) writes:
>Several universities in the UK and in NZ will award PhDs solely on
>the basis of a portfolio of published work plus an oral exam on that
>work (to show that you really understand it).  It is NOT restricted
>to staff at the university and anyone can apply for such a thing. 

This is not universally true.

Lancaster restricts this route to staff.
Cambridge restricts it to its own graduates of at least 6 years standing.
Open University restricts it to staff of 3 years standing.
London also restricts it to staff [but including, I think, some "associated
institutions" - e.g. medical research council labs].

Andrew Wilson
Linguistics
Lancaster University, UK
From: gadosy1@vax2.concordia.ca (ME, WHO ELSE?)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: Universities and equipment
Date: 25 Jul 92 04:14:00 GMT
Organization: Concordia University
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


	We (the chemistry graduate student association of Concordia 
University) are currently doing a survey to find out what equipment is
available to graduate students at various universities.  I would greatly
appreciate it if anybody and evrybody could send me mail listing the types
of equipment that are available to graduate students.  NOTE:  I am looking
for equipment that is available to the whole department, not just one or
two research groups.  Please also tell me the name of the university and
howmany graduate students you have.

	Thanks in advance.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|\/\/\/|
|      |  "I want to centrifuge a kitten!!" - Gadosy1@Vax2.Concordia.CA
|      |
| (o)(o)  "Kittens grow up to be fuzzy Satanic fur balls" - A Very Smart Person
C      _)
| '____|
|   /     "No bar too far, no beer too dear" - Timothy A. Gadosy, Esq.
|  |
|  |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: pbays@bach.helios.nd.edu (phil bays)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: Chemistry position announcement
Date: 24 Jul 92 15:20:14 GMT
Organization: University of Notre Dame

Summary:  Analytical chemist
Expires: 
References:
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 

Organization: Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN
Keywords: 
I hope that the following position announcement is
appropriate for the newsgroup.  As the dates indicate,
I am somewhat desperate.


Due to the illness of a chemistry faculty member, Saint Mary's College, Notre
Dame,IN, is in urgent need of a replacement. Teaching responsibilities will
include the full year introductory course for non-science majors, and the
Junior-level chemistry majors analytical/instrumental course.  Although this is
a one-year replacement situation, there is potential for it developing into a
tenure track position.   Saint Mary's College is a Catholic college for women
which emphasizes the liberal arts and seeks faculty supportive of its mission.
Applications from minority candidates are particularly encouraged.  Since time
is of the essence (classes begin Aug. 25th),  please call or send an e-mail note
telling me of your interest, and  FAX a resume, transcripts, and three letters
of recommendation to me, Dr. Philip Bays: 
      Fax(219) 284-4671 
      Phone (219) 284-4663 (work)
                 (616) 684-2279 (home)
      pbays@bach.helios.nd.edu
From: tbaker@nmsu.edu (Trevor Baker)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: P32 b-emmissions -> gammas?
Date: 23 Jul 92 13:17:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: nmsu.1992Jul23.131714.22226
Organization: New Mexico State University

I'm putting this to sci.chem for my brother who doesn't have net
access.

He is working at a lab which is using P-32 in common doses of 5 mC, but
they would like to use 15 mC.  They are working behind a plastic
shield, I guess its just thick plexiglass.  One of his co-workers
suggests that the b-emission from the P-32 is causing gamma particles
to be emitted from the shield.  The X-ray emission from the plastic is
high enough to be picked up with a survey meter, but the co-worker
holds that not all that is being picked up is X-ray.  Comments on any
of this ?

He wanted me to look up Brehmstallung (sp?) X-rays from P-32 b's in my
old nuclear chem book, but I don't have it anymore.  I would go to the
campus library to look it up, but all the books are being split
between 2 buildings now and its a big mess.  I've seen that we have a
few nuclear/radio chemists (.sig) and was hoping someone could fill me
in.  Any comments would be appreciated :)

Trevor Baker  --  tbaker@nmsu.edu
From: Ligon@macgw1.ge.com (Woody Ligon)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: Re: Teflon: question about heating.
Date: 27 Jul 92 11:42:33 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: GE-CRD

In article <1992Jul26.202402.15578@newserve.cc.binghamton.edu>, dluznie@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu (dluznie) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Jul24.120608.20235@crd.ge.com> Ligon@macgw1.ge.com (Woody Ligon) writes:
> >
> >> > I posted this article to sci.materials, and got one response suggesting
> >> >that the gas Teflon *may* emit when heated too much is Phosgene.
> >
> >When heated above about 280 C in air (not vacuum), Teflon(R) decomposes to
> >give (in part) fluorophosgene (carbonyl difluoride). Unlike dioxin, asbestos,
> >PCBs and Alar, etc., etc., this really is a genuinely and very seriously toxic
> > material. The term "toxic" has been so completely devalued that I think this
> >kind of comparisons are necessary to provide perspective.  
> >
> [...]
> 
> You are right, it will release fluorophosgene, but the temperature
> needed as I recall must be much higher. Teflon(R) decomposition
> temperature as I remember is 416 deg. C. Fluorinated hydrocarbons
> released during decomposition of polytetrafluoroethylene
> at high temperatures will oxidize to fluorophosgene (similarly to 
> chlorinated hydrocarbons which will form phosgene eg. chloroform vapors
> on contact with red hot wire or hot end of a cigarette oxidizes in air
> with formation of phosgene).
> 
> Tomek Dluzniewski 
> 

What we have here is a question of rates.  Of course, Teflon (R) decomposes
 more quickly at 400 C (or 600 as someone else suggested) but 
the reaction also goes as low as 280 C albeit much more slowly.  Anyone who
 has ever tried using teflon ferrules in a gas chromatograph above 280 for any 
extended period of time will know that the Teflon disappears entirely at 
these temperatures in a matter of about a month. Ferrules are far thicker
than the coatings we are talking about on cookware so extended use of a 
coating above 280 C (about 500 F) is definitely going to destroy such coatings
in short order. 

I don't have a copy of the TGA (thermogravimetric analysis) of Teflon (R) 
handy but I'd strongly suspect that even with a 20 C/min temperature ramp most 
of the weight would be lost long before 400 C provided the experiment was
done in air.

I was reporting the temperature at which the reaction would proceed at a 
noticable rate, not the temperature at which the reaction would be complete
in a few seconds!

Woody Ligon
Standard Disclaimer applies
(ligon@macgw1.ge.com)  
>
From: jstravis@bass.bu.edu (John Travis)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: The life of a chem postdoc?
Date: 28 Jul 92 12:27:20 GMT
Reply-To: jstravis@bass.bu.edu (John Travis)
Organization: Boston University


Hi everyone. Here'a an opportunity for postdocs to get all their
gripes off their chests. I'm a writer for Science magazine and
for our upcoming special issues on Careers in Science I'm writing
an article broadly titled "The Lot of a Postdoc" So tell me what's good
and bad about being a POSTDOC IN 1992.  Some of the obvious issues I'm looking
for input on are:
Money woes
Foreign Postdocs--do you look for the same benefits out of your experience
US Postdocs in Europe
Multiple Postdocs!!!
Postdoc while trying to raise/support a family
Postdocs in industry
Postdocs in small schools, big schools, small and big labs

Innundate me with email, a call or a fax and perhaps we'' talk in depth
about youtr situation in particular.

work 617-288-7939
fax   617-288-7768

Thanks for helping me get a good snapshot of postdoc life.

John Travis
Science (Northeast Bureau)


Newsgroups: sci.chem
From: kolbjc@infonode.ingr.com (Chris Kolb)
Subject: Trans/non-transparent
Keywords: liquid or solid
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 18:34:52 GMT


Before I start searching, I would like to know if anyone
knows of a liquid or solid that could be changed back and
forth from transparent to non-transparent with say elec-
tricity or heat?

Don't ask, I'm not even sure! :O

KOLB


Newsgroups: sci.chem
From: tomas_e@LINK.Physchem.KTH.SE (Tomas Eriksson)
Subject: Re: moderator how is one appointed?
Reply-To: tomas_e@LINK.Physchem.KTH.SE
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 16:03:45 GMT

In article <EeP5Sy600WBMQ1v3oN@andrew.cmu.edu>, Paul Karol <pk03+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>
>   I cast my vote AGAINST moderation.  (No pun intended.)
>
So do I.

Tomas
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tomas Eriksson                                          tomas_e@physchem.kth.se
            Surface Force Group, Department of Physical Chemistry,
               Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Newsgroups: sci.chem
From: gkb1@chempc1.york.ac.uk (Graham Barlow)
Subject: Ageing of copper
Organization: University of York, UK
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 13:03:17 GMT

Hi,

How would one go about making copper look "weathered", but not
to the extent that it becomes covered in verdigree

Graham

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Graham Barlow                      Internet gkb1@chempc1.york.ac.uk
NMR Service                              or gkb1@tower.york.ac.uk
Department of Chemistry             JANET   gkb1@uk.ac.york
University of York, UK                                
__________________________________________________________________________________
From: ralf@ark.abg.sub.org (Ralf Stephan)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: Re: More on moderator
Date: 24 Jul 92 10:49
Organization: Private Coherent 3.2.1 site waiting for 4.0

cs_jh@cox.nsac.ns.ca (JEFF HOYLE) writes:
> 
> The problem that I see with a newsgroup like this one is that it is hard to 
> get chemists who are newbie computer users to access the newsgroup and get 
> involved when they see totally irrelevant discussions going on.  It just 
> seems to scare new users off!!!!  I have tried several times to get 
> colleagues to be involved with the group and this is one of the common 
> comments that I get from them.........

This has been discussed similarly in sci.physics too. The solution seems
the creation of new groups, eg sci.chem.research as is the case with
sci.math.research.

But please leave sci.chem as it is.

--ralf
------------------------------------------------- please ignore this sig.
Newsgroups: sci.enviroment,sci.chem,sci.materials
From: lewj@nextnet.ccs.csus.edu ()
Subject: Looking for Info on the following company based in Sparks, Nevada
Originator: lewj@nextnet
Organization: California State University Sacramento
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 19:11:42 GMT

 Hi can you help me?  I'm looking for information to a company or firm in
SParks, Nevada.  The name is Sierra Enviromental Monitoring.  I need it
in three days.  If you can help please send your replies to
lewj@athena.ecs.csus.edu 

I think the company is in toxicology..

also do you know anywhere in Nevada can I get some ethyline dichloride?

many Thanks

james L.
From: whitbeck@equinox.unr.edu (Michael Whitbeck)
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: Re: Hydrazine
Date: 30 Jul 92 01:06:32 GMT
Organization: University of Nevada, Reno

In article <13750@mindlink.bc.ca> a481@mindlink.bc.ca (J.D. Frazer) writes:
::Could some compassionate individual be so kind as to post the formula for
::hydrazine?
::
::Gracias.
::
::--
::J.D. Frazer, a481@mindlink.bc.ca, (Vancouver, B.C., Canada)
::-----------------------------------------------------------
::*BRRRRAPPAPPAPPAPPAPPAPPAPPAPP!*
::"MEIN LEBEN!" <thud>
::"You shoulda thought about that when you signed up, buddy." - Valaria


  H2N=NH2

Newsgroups:   sci.chem
From:         loc@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM (Leigh Clayton)
Subject:      Teflon: question about heating.
X-Telephone:  +1 (416) 364-5361 Fax +1 (416) 364-2910 Telex 0622259
Organization: Reuters APL Software Division
X-Mail:       1900/2 First Canadian Place, Toronto, Canada, M5X 1E3
Date:         22 Jul 92 21:56:16 UT

 I'm not normally a reader of sci.chem, but this question came up in
rec.food.veg a while ago and I hope someone here can lay it to rest. I will
read sci.chem for a while so you can respond either by mail or a post; I'll
summarise to rec.food.veg but not here unless people ask me to.

 I posted this article to sci.materials, and got one response suggesting
that the gas Teflon *may* emit when heated too much is Phosgene. The respondant
was a bit cautious, though, since Phosgene seems to contain Chlorine and it
isn't obvious where that would come from. Since the interest in rec.food.veg
seems to still be there, I'm trying again this time to sci.chemistry; maybe
we'll get better luck. I don't read sci.chemistry though, so if anyone does
decide to post an answer, please post to rec.food.veg as well.

       -----------Begin previously posted article--------------

 In article <1992Jun11.152827.4156@bb1t.monsanto.com> tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
(I think. He may have been responding to an earlier post) suggests that Teflon
should not be overheated because it will emit a dangerous gas that will kill
pet birds (and presumably people).

 Teflon is (according to my American Heritage) a trade name for
polytetrafluoroethylene. My organic chemistry is rather tentative, but I decode
that name to look a bit like this:

       F F F F F
       | | | | |
  ... -C-C-C-C-C ...
       | | | | |
       F F F F F

 This is sort of a chlorine-less, polymerised CFC. Containing Fluorine it
clearly *could* be convinced to emit Fluorine gas, which is indeed very toxic
(though why it would kill a pet bird and leave a human around to gripe about it
is a bit of a mystery to me). But I would expect this compound to be quite
heat-stable (and indeed, fluorine gas being well known to be so toxic I can't
imagine regulatory agencies allowing anything likely to emit it in cooking
utensils for home use). Of course, the indicted gas may not be fluorine, since
there are lots of dangerous gases in the world (like cyanide, which is made out
of just carbon and nitrogen, so there's likely some way to make it out of
Teflon (or wood) and air too, but I'd be surprised to see a lot of it made just
by heating the stuff too hot).

 This strikes me as a typical urban myth, but I'm cross-posting to the
sci.materials group in the hope that someone there will know (or be willing to
find out) exactly how thermally stable the stuff is.


-----------------------------------------------------------
Leigh Clayton                     loc@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM
    -or-                        loc@ipsaint.ipsa.reuter.COM
Newsgroups: sci.chem
From: branham@binah.cc.brandeis.edu (Tom Branham, Biophysics Grad. Brandeis)
Subject: Re: Trans/non-transparent
Reply-To: branham@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 02:31:59 GMT

Well for some reason LCD's just leap to mind    :)

         ........Tom Branham
Newsgroups: sci.chem
From: hsaiah@ulys.unil.ch
Subject: conductivity units
Organization: University of Lausanne - CH (Switzerland)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 15:07:49 GMT

hello, 
I want to know how to convert a conductivity mesurments expressed in (Ohm -1
Cm -1) into Siemens units. thanks in advance.
henni
Email: Hsaiah@ul9000.ulys.unil
Newsgroups: sci.chem
From: carter@cemvax.cem.msu.edu (Tom Carter) 
Subject: re: structure/graphing software
Organization: Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan 
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 92 12:51:22 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.083949.292@hpb.hwc.ca> pandrews@hpb.hwc.ca writes:
>hi,
>I'm looking to buy 2 software packages: the first is to be a molecular
>drawing program, the second a graphing package.  I'd like both to on
>a PC through Windows.  I've worked with WIMP before , but have had problems
>getting the demo to run on my PC (an HP Vectra QS/20).  As for the graphing
>software, I've also used Sigmaplot before, (the pre-windows version) and it
>was a bit brain dead.  Any suggestions?
>Paul Andrews:Health and Welfare Canada
>pandrews@hpb.hwc.ca
>
I use Windows 3.1 exclusively, and for molecular drawing I use ChemWindow 
2.1 (Softshell Int'l., 715 Horizon Drive, Suite 390, Grand Junction, CO
81506  303-242-7502). It's very good.

For plotting, I use Origin 2.0 (Microcal, Inc., 22 Industrial Drive East, 
Northampton, MA  01060  800-969-7720). This is a very good graphing/analysis 
program with a scientific orientation.

HTH
============================================================================
|         Tom Carter                    |     carter@cemvax.cem.msu.edu    |
|   Michigan State University           |     carter@msucem.bitnet         |
|     Chemistry Department              |                                  |
============================================================================
Newsgroups: sci.chem
Subject: re: PCModel
From: lunazzi@boifcc.cineca.it (Mauro Andrea Cremonini)
Date: 24 Jul 92 09:53:16 +0100

In article <1992Jul24.152645.89525@vaxc.cc.monash.edu.au>  writes:
>I would like to hear opinions of PCModel by Serena Software
>
>Department of Chemistry
>Monash University
>Australia

I think Serena Software did a good job with PC model. We have been using PcModel
for almost 3 years and, as long as you do not need to handle more then 128 atoms,
the program works well.
You have also the possibility of running mixed MM2 + PI calculations (open and 
closed shell).
With this program we could correlate very well the N.O.E. results of couples of 
diastereomers with calculated distances.
We have also just bought a new program from serena software. It is called
GMMX; I haven't tried it jet but they claim it can minimize a structure much
better than the standard procedure.
Of course these are my personal opinions...

Bye
Mauro

|===================================|    /\
|Mauro Andrea Cremonini (IW4BOX)    |   //\\
|Dept. Organic Chemistry            |  ///\\\
|University, Bologna, ITALY         |  \\\///
|e-mail lunazzi@boifcc.cineca.it    |   \\//
|===================================|    \/