🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <C0K42H.C75@max.physics.sunysb.edu> danube@max.physics.sunysb.edu writes:
>    I have some chips of Calcium that are badly oxidized.  I am wondering
>if there is a simple way to clean them.  I put them in a plastic bottle
>with N2 gas and sealed it for storage.  I noticed that if I shake the 
>bottle a lot, the oxide rubs off a bit.  I suppose I could put glass chips
>in the bottle and shake for a day.  Then I could take the Ca chips out in
>a glove box.
>    Any better Ideas?  Also, how can I store things like Ca, Na, K, and Rb
>without oil?  Is Carbon-tetrachloride better?  I need to put the chips in
>a high vacuum system and I don't want the oil around.  I assume things like
>C-tet evaporate more easily.
>							Danube


Under no circumstance should you allow an alkali metal to contact any
halogenated solvent.  T. L. Davis (The Chemistry of Powder and
Explosives, p. 402) describes the exciting reaction of sodium with
chlorform (CHCl_3); it is bound to inspire confidence if repeated in
your lab.  Even with alkali earths, these solvents should not be 
assumed to be chemically inert.  You might consider rinsing the 
oil off using a light hydrocarbon, such as hexane or cyclohexane 
(--after checking with someone knowledgable (not me!)).