Re: Table Salt a Hazard?


"Satoru Uzawa" <satoru@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:fnr8lt$23av$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
NoSpam <NoSpam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello

I have made an astounding discovery regarding
the freedoms we enjoy in the West.

One of my hobbies is the precipitation of micro-
crystals and their observation under the objective
of a microscope using various forms of illumi-
nation.

For this purpose I have used NaCl, also known
as table salt when sold over the counter at food
markets. This form of NaCl however contains
various impurities, some on purpose, some from
inadequate purification. The resulting crystals
are interesting, but show lack of perfect sym-
metry.

I have therefore tried to purchase analytical
grade NaCl from Sigma-Aldrich and Baddley
Chemicals. I did not know that at Sigma-Aldrich
one must go thru a "screening process" on ac-
count of the hazards posed to national security
by chemicals, including NaCl. In the process
of being "screened" I learned that no sales must
be made to individuals, no matter how harm-
less a substance may be. Same for Baddley
Chemicals.

How can it be, that the sale of NaCl and pre-
sumably of other, similarly harmless compounds
to individuals is forbidden? I can't imagine that
this is caused by true concern for the security of
a nation which prides itself for being the sole re-
maining superpower. Could it be that this regu-
lation serves the purpose of bringing all of sciene
under total federal control? Could it be that
the lack of science education among politicians
and lawmakers has led to such an excess?

I would be interested in comments regarding
this subject.

Thank you
G.R.

Have you tried rock salt?

It already comes in nice crystals, in many cases. Crystalizing to a
large and symmetric form almosts needs an anti-vibration setup.

Sigma-Aldrich has tight regulation to whom to sell. Try science kit
providers instead, like www.sciencekit.com for your enquiry. Yeah,
I see NaCl listed there. It's quite cheap, too.

Have fun!

Satoru


Hello Satoru,

I appreciate your attempts to help. Yes, I have
tried all kinds of salt.They do form crystals, but the
crystals are far from having the perfection
I would like to see under the microscope. The
reasons are various impurities and the addition of
substances such as KI and drying substances
to table salt.

I am not speaking of the relatively huge crystals
which can be found in various preparations, but of
microscopic crystals grown from solution on a micros-
cope slide for viewing under DIC, POL and darkfield.
For this reason I have been looking into reagent grade
NaCl, made astonishing discoveries about the hair
raising bureacracy which has grown in the post 9/11
world around everyday substances and felt it was a
good idea to point this out.

G.R

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Table Salt a Hazard?
    ... crystals and their observation under the objective ... For this purpose I have used NaCl, ... by chemicals, including NaCl. ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Table Salt a Hazard?
    ... crystals and their observation under the objective ... For this purpose I have used NaCl, ... I did not know that at Sigma-Aldrich ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Table Salt a Hazard?
    ... crystals and their observation under the objective ... For this purpose I have used NaCl, ... a nation which prides itself for being the sole re- ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)