28 Apr
2011
28 Apr
'11
9:21 a.m.
On 28 Apr 2011 at 10:14, Mark Tapley wrote:
Have not tried it. Not crazy about fooling around with
lead in
general, but I might do it some time, depending on how interested in
chemistry they get. Thanks for the suggestion! --
Lead isn't necessary--it's been used historically because it's not
affected by the bicarbonate solution. But you can use stainless
steel, carbon, whatever non-reactive substance you might have on
hand.
I've found it interesting that folks don't balk at having a roof
flashed with lead or a stained-glass window that uses lead canes in
their church, but get nervous if they come within an arm's length of
the stuff.
Absent strong acids, metallic lead is comparatively safe.
--Chuck