Well, anyway, being the inquisitive sorts we are here at Utopia Parkway, we've decided it's high time we did some serious delving into the unknown. We want to Explore Our World. We wanna build a model volcano.
And we want to do it with style. So it is with
this in mind that we offer a slight alteration of _700 Science
Experiments For Everyone_'s Model Volcano experiment - we replace
their ammonium biochromate with Grunge Gunk [tm].
Grunge
Gunk [tm] is an "Alternative Hair Styling Mud" which has a "Unique
Formula with Fiber," "Bonds to Hair," is "Shampoo Soluable" and
"Applies Clear." It styles, separates, *and* shines! And since Grunge
Gunk [tm] contains PVP/VA copolymer, myristyl propionate, polysorbate
60, propylene glycol, DEA cetyl phosphate, OLETH-3, ozokerite,
diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben and propylparaben, we figure it's a
worthy substitute for ammonium bichromate - and so much easier to
obtain!
So, with hesitation firmly shoved aside, let's strap on our safety glasses and get started:
"MAKING A MODEL VOLCANO
Secure from a chemical supply house [or your local Walgreens, as the case may be] 500 gm of Grunge Gunk [tm], 125 gm of magnesium powder and 30 gm of magnesium ribbon. The total cost of these materials will be about $2.50 and will provide from 30 to 40 volcanic eruptions. [!!]
Have the children collect some ordinary clay [if you don't have any children handy, see Appendix for addresses of elementary schools across the nation and pick yourself up a few]. Use a board for a base and with the clay, build a volcanic cone [Doh! they said *volcanic* cone, not *waffle* cone!] about 30 cm high and 60 cm in diameter at the base. Push a piece of broomstick down into the tip of the cone to a depth of 5 to 7 cm.
On a piece of paper pour out enough of the Grunge Gunk [tm] to fill the hole in the cone about twice. Do not grind up the crystals. The lumps work better. [Finally! A Gen-X science text!] Mix a little magnesium powder with the Grunge Gunk [tm] crystals and carefully stir with a pencil.
Pour about half of the
mixture into the cone of the volcano. Cut a 7.5 length of magnesium
ribbon and push one end into the mixture in the cone. Let the other
end stick out the top for a fuse. Light the magnesium ribbon with a
match and step back [waaay back]. If the eruption does not take place
the first time wait a few moments, insert another fuse and try again.
After the eruption has occured, but while the material left in the
cone is still hot, pour in the remainder of the mixture, and you will
have a second eruption."
Now that you're in the mood, we suggest you check out what those wacky
folks at Rice have
been doing with Twinkies.
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