any chemists in the house?

Post by **Dr_Watson** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:11 am

wtf chemical could do this to a car?

[lvlshot]http://phair.csh.rit.edu/~drwatson/temp/whatthecrap.jpg[/lvlshot]

Post by **Dave** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:14 am

urine

Post by **Dr_Watson** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:16 am

seriously?

Post by **Canidae** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:16 am

Looks deliberate

Post by **Massive Quasars** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:17 am

you want an obvious answer? perhaps so obvious you've already considered it and discounted it?

Post by **Dave** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:17 am

Dr_Watson wrote:seriously?

no, it just sounded funny. I assume the light spots are primer or metal.

Post by **Dr_Watson** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:19 am

both... some of the paint is gone down to bare metal... the rest is primer.

Post by **netrex** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:29 am

Hmm I can't make out what's on that picture..

Post by **Canidae** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:33 am

It was a thrown liquid that is why there are so many splatters. Two buckets that perhaps could be acid from pool cleaning???

Post by **Canidae** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:34 am

which is what they clean pools with...hydrochloric acid

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:49 am

Paint thinner?

Post by **SOAPboy** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 4:51 am

Bleach can.. draino can.. spray on paint stripper..

theres a ton of things..

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:02 am

Muriatic acid == HCl (for those that don't know this)

As for the paint on the car - did it happen right away - or was there chipping and oxidation before it peeled off?

But it could have been another strong acid...although, HCl is relatively easy to get (you can get muriatic acid at a swimming pool store..)

and now I see I should have read all the thread more closely...

Post by **Dr_Watson** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:05 am

riddla wrote:Its most likely muriatic acid, I've seen the stuff do exactly this. It leeches all the way to the metal pretty fast. Its most common use is cleaning paint, etc from brick and can be picked up at any hardware store relatively cheap.

after reading this: http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infmur.shtm

Typical home uses include heavy-duty masonry cleaning, preparation of masonry for painting or sealing, removal of efflorescence or mineral deposits and pH reduction in swimming pools. Its reactive power makes it the chemical of choice for some types of masonry cleaning.

i think you may be right.
so it was probably pool cleaner.

oh, the story behind the photo is that a dude i know was at the movies downtown tonite and some shitbag did that to his car.
no idea who... or why... least the what may be solved.

Post by **Dr_Watson** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:07 am

tnf wrote:Muriatic acid == HCl (for those that don't know this)

As for the paint on the car - did it happen right away - or was there chipping and oxidation before it peeled off?

all the damage was done during the course of a movie.

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:08 am

Any strong odor he can recall? I'm not a physical/materials chemist, so I can't give you much detail on the reaction that took place here...My brother in law has his master's in chemical engineering...he will be here on Saturday, so I will show him the pic and see what he thinks.

Post by **Dr_Watson** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:10 am

dunno... he just went to bed alittle while ago...
which is honestly what i should do soon.

but i think you guys are onto something with the pool cleaner...
its strange that it didn't fuckup the molding strip... which is that black line through the damage.
oh, and this is the side of a focus zts if anyone was curious.

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:10 am

Dr_Watson wrote:
tnf wrote:Muriatic acid == HCl (for those that don't know this)

As for the paint on the car - did it happen right away - or was there chipping and oxidation before it peeled off?
all the damage was done during the course of a movie.

What is strange is that to splash something like muriatic acid all over a car is not smart unless you are taking some precautions...

But these folks could have found a bottle of it, or taken one from a pool, and just found a random car to toss it on.

I'm wondering if a very strong base might have done the same thing...

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:13 am

And I don't know - but chemicals like methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, acetone, etc. are all pretty common solvents and might have done the same...?

Post by **Canidae** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:17 am

So does peeing in the pool

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:23 am

riddla wrote:Its not used to clean pools, its used to adjust the pH

Adjust == lower it for those of you who don't know.

I was a lifeguard and managed a pool for a long, long time. Hey, that reminds me of some good shit stories....

Post by **Dave** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:27 am

you guys are weird

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:27 am

Dave wrote:you guys are weird

I'm working on my animated icon.

Post by **Dave** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:28 am

You and Jules... weird.

Post by **tnf** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:29 am

Nah, its just the mental decomposition that takes place in the week following 9 straight months of working with high school students.