Amateur Chemistry: Unintentional Explosive Byproducts in the Lab.
3,436 views · Published 10 July 2018 · 13:11 · Indexed 6 October 2026
Channel: Matthew Wilson · 2018 · Howto & Style
This is a public safety awareness video regarding dangerous side products in both amateur and academic/professional lab settings. While performing a relatively benign experiment oxidizing iron (II) oxide to iron (III) oxide, I unknowingly created a primary high explosive compound. I know it sounds like total BS at first, but the product I created is acetone peroxide, otherwise known as TATP. Acetone peroxide is a highly explosive compound which is unstable, friction, contact and heat sensitive. This compound is one of the most common byproducts accidentally made in the lab resulting most often in finger amputations. The next video I've uploaded shows exactly how explosive this material is, while this video shows how "meh" it can be when attempting to duplicate an experiment while being Matthew Wilson. At least the next video shows the power of this accidentally made compound, so I successfully documented a fail just for you the limited number of subscribers on my channel. You're welcome. Note to the FBI: This was strictly an accidental byproduct created as described above and was found in a small 50ml flask containing 10ml of solution which formed approximately .344 grams total, of wet product as measured with my cheap and inaccurate scale. Upon further drying, I have no way to determine the exact weight of the final product. I did not want this material in my possession any longer than the few minutes it took me to make this video. It was cool to witness the power of this compound, but I don't want to have this substance in my possession ever again. My ears are still ringing from the next video as I disposed the remaining amount of TATP.
