From: "Jayson Redding" <imttmm@hotmail.com>

The Hydriodic Acid FAQ 1.0
By: Iyemtetum

This FAQ covers only one of many methods for the production of 
Hydriodic acid.  No information regarding its use is included.

This procedure requires the use of iodine,  red phosphorus, and 
distilled water.

Iodine has the chemical symbol I.  It occurs in its stable form as a
 diatomic molecule, I2.  Iodine has a formula weight of 253.809.  1 mol 
of iodine has a mass of 253.809 grams.  

Red phosphorus has the chemical symbol P.  In its stable form, 
phosphorus occurs as four molecules bound together, P4.  It has a 
formula weight of 30.973.  1 mol of phosphorus has a mass of 30.973 
grams.

Water has a chemical formula of H2O.  Its formula weight is 18.015. 1 
mol of water has a mass of 18.015 grams, or 18.015 milliliters.

Hydrogen iodide gas has a chemical formula of  HI.  Its formula weight
is 127.912.  1 mol of HI gas has a mass of 127.912 grams.

Phosphoric acid has a chemical formula of H3PO4 its formula weight is 
99.995.  1 mol of phosphoric acid has a mass of 99.995 grams.

Hydrogen iodide gas can be formed through the reaction between iodine, 
water, and red phosphorus.  This is shown by the chemical equation 
below.

16(H20) + 10(I2) + 2(P4) ---> 20(HI) + 4(H3PO4) +P4

16 mol of water added to a mixture of 10 mol iodine and 2 mol red 
phosphorus yields 20 mol hydrogen iodide gas, 4 mol phosphoric acid, 
and 1 mol red phosphorus.  The extra mol of red phosphorus in the 
first half of the equation is to ensure that the reaction will be 
carried out.  As you can see, the additional mol remains unchanged, 
and can be filtered out for later use.  You can NOT add 16 grams of 
water to 10 grams of iodine and 2 grams of phosphorus to produce 20 
grams of hydrogen iodide gas, 4 grams of phosphoric acid, and one 
grams of phosphorus.  In order to find the quantities of reagents 
necessary to carry out this reaction, the mol’s must be converted to 
their mass equivalent. For example:

16 mol H2O     18.015 grams
-------- ------ *  ----------------  =  288.82 grams H2O 
     1                      1 mol

The mol units cancel out leaving grams.


16 mol H2O = 288.82 milliliters of water
10 mol I2 = 2538.09 grams
2 mol P4 = 61.95 grams
20 mol HI = 2558.24 grams
4 mol H3PO4 = 399.98 milliliters
1 mol P4 = 30.97 grams

This give you:
288.82 milliliters of water plus 2538.09 grams of iodine plus 61.95 
grams of red phosphorus will produce 2558.24 grams of hydrogen iodide 
gas plus 399.98 milliliters of phosphoric acid plus 30.97 grams of red 
phosphorus.

A 57% solution of hydriodic acid can be produced by bubbling 57 grams 
of HI gas through 100 milliliters of water.  To ensure the required 
concentration is obtained, 60 grams of HI gas for every 100 
milliliters of water will provide a sufficient safety net.

The above quantities of reagents will produce enough HI gas to make 
approximately 4 Liters of hydriodic acid.

How To Make 300 ml of Hydriodic Acid

Materials:

198.42 grams Iodine
4.84 grams red phosphorus
250ml Erlenmeyer flask
500ml Erlenmeyer flask filled with 300 ml distilled water
one hole stopper
two hole stopper
addition funnel filled with 22.52 ml distilled water
long stem medicine dropper
inch section of glass tubing
6 inches of rubber tubing
hot plate

Procedure:

Step 1.

	In a 250 ml flask, mix 198.42 grams of iodine and 4.84 grams
of red phosphorus.  

Step 2.

	Prepare the two hole stopper by inserting the addition funnel 
through one hole, and the 2 inch section of glass tubing in the other.
This stopper will go into the 250 ml flask containing the red 
phosphorus and iodine.  Make sure that both the stem of the addition 
funnel and a portion of the glass tubing are exposed on the side of 
the stopper that will be inside the flask.


Step 3.

	 To the exposed end of the glass tubing, attach the 6 inch 
section of rubber tubing. At the other end of the rubber tubing insert
the medicine dropper.  

Step 4.

	Insert the medicine dropper into the one hole stopper and 
LOOSELY insert the stopper into the 500 ml flask filled with 300 ml 
water.  

Step 5.

	Put some goggles on and slowly open the addition funnel valve 
to allow water into the 250 ml flask.  A significant amount of heat 
will evolve.  HI gas will begin bubbling through the rubber tubing 
into the water in the 500 ml flask.  If you are adventuresome, VERY 
VERY gently heat the 500 ml flask with the hot plate.  Take 
precautions to ensure that the pressure inside the flask does not 
become too great.  The increased pressure will increase the amount of 
HI gas that can be absorbed by the water, however this does not 
benefit very much because as the pressure is equalized when you remove 
the stopper, any HI gas that was absorbed over 57 grams will become 
gaseous once again.

Congratulations, you have succeeded in producing approximately 300 ml 
of 57% hydriodic acid.

If the quantities of the chemicals are changed at all, do it 
proportionally!!  If they are not changed proportionally, another 
reaction could occur involving the production of a phosphoric acid, 
and  much less HI than the method detailed.  For those of you 
interested in the phosphoric acid.... Maybe later.

Have fun, be careful, Don't take any of this as law, research, enjoy.

Special thanks to Phiber Optik for all of his help!
Also, Scott, Thanks for all your information, I hope you agree with 
all of this!
 

-----------------------------
Read below before proceeding:
-----------------------------


Subject: POP-i on HI FAQ 1.0
Newsgroups: alt.drugs.chemistry

Here's some of the copy I filed this morning at the Centerville Tribune
 for the Crime beat, which is usually pretty slow in Centerville,  it's
 my job to make it seem that way.  Local  Bible thumping citizen perverts
 will cough up four figures on the spot.  Anybone buggering  teenage male
 prostitutes when the Vice Squad hits the Porn Room will offer more than
 necessary to stay out of print.

  Me and vinny , my camera jockey, been playin the Vice Boys close, after
 a five way split we can take home 1500 each on a good night, that's if 
everything runs smooth. Quality video is the heart of Journalism these days,
 you need to show up before the crime, or before the cops, and roll some tape,
 that's the trick.  That's called an establishing or set-up shot.

I'm a success in the reporter rackets cuz I got a uncanny sense of where 
and when the next Newsworthy  Event will strike. And if the Press ain't 
there to protect the public interest, then who knows what kind of lowlife
 scams these fuckin cops would be pullin.

Things were slow last night so I chased an ambualance over to a house fire
 in the Heights. I thought some of you might find this kinda interesting.

Paully (the pen) POPi
Centerville Trib

A pimply overweight teenager suffered minor burns and respiratory scorch
 shortly before dying of embarassment today while firemen were at work on
 his house.

"I told that kid to lay down in the emergency vehicle if he felt dizzy."  
Chief Carbonashe  told reporters.  "Now we have to carry his fat ass out
 to the meat wagon, and there wasn't a damn thing wrong with his legs....
.... or his hearing."

The Fire Cheif continued, "We'll get him out there later, right now we're 
tryin to get the house to hold enough water to  make a big aquarium, like 
the fancy ones in the city, we'll charge admission, get some topless mermaids
 and some fish,   serve cocktails, the water's a bit cloudy and black right now,
  we could have a Delaware River Motif till we get the filters worked out, 
the fire dept could run the whole thing, for charity of course , I figure we'll
 use swimming flters and pu.....

It was clear to this reporter that the chief had rescued some righteous 
product from the blaze while extinguishing yet another of the small town 
methLabs that oxidize rapidly on occasion, here in Centerville, a nice place
 to raise your kids. 

After a few hard kicks told me the crumpled figure in the back yard  of 
Centerville's proposed Aquarium Lounge Site was indeed a corpse, and not a 
teenager faking it for sympathy, I searched for clues in  his pockets.

My hunch was good, this kid was heavily involved in the Cash Economy.  
Without my cameraman, and no public officials around,  there was none of the
 usual negotiations.

I felt better than James Brown. 

 I continued rifling his pockets and found some papers which I carried away,
 just to show  anyone who may have been watching...... Besides, papers are 
information, I'm a reporter, there might be some horny love letters from a 
local slut, I could threaten to print them and collect a grand from her father,
 or settle for a month of fucks if they're blue collar bums. I hadn't fucked a
 sixteen year old since I did the series on child abuse last year,  plenty of
 young talent around  that action.


Later I went through the stuff lookin for the dirt.

Nothin'.  But I was right about one thing, the little fucker was cookin' up 
some crank when the spark hit the fuel.   

The kid was dead, didn't matter what he was doin, can't squeeze money from 
a corpse,  not without a signed organ donor card.  But I kept reading, maybe
 I could tie someone else in, someone who could afford the luxory of freedom
 in drugWar America. 

 The paper was printed from the INTERNET.  Almost didn't recognized the Netscape
 Window with no tits in it.  I didn't know you could get text off the WEB, live and learn.
 
The chemicals reminded me of bomb recipes I found goin through my cousin Stumpy's
 room.  I should have photocopied those before I sold them back to him, I was too
 honest in them days.

Anyway, here's what I found. There was steps numbered one through fivethere was a 
checkmark next to Step 1 that matched the ballpoint from his top pocket.  However, 
there wasn't no more checkmarks after that.  I gotta hunch this is the key, somehow,
 just a hunch.

I seen he got this on this Newsgroup.  So why not go to the horse's ass?  If anybody
 can help me figure this one out,  you could have the satisfaction of knowing you done
 the right thing.

Or if anybody can see an angle here I missed, or some way to get over, or cash in on 
this tragedy if it ain't too late and everybody forgot the kid already, drop me a line,
 maybe we can work a deal or get a Pulitzer Prize or something.

Here's somethin from the kid's pockets that hasn't cashed out yet

..........................................................................

(CHECKMARK FROM A INKPEN)
 Step 1.   In a 250 ml flask, mix 198.42 grams of iodine and 4.84 grams
 of red phosphorus.  


(NO CHECKMARK FROM A INKPEN)

Step 2.  Prepare the two hole stopper by inserting the addition funnel
through one hole, and the 2 inch section of glass tubing in the other.
This stopper will go into the 250 ml flask containing the red
phosphorus and iodine.  Make sure that both the stem of the addition
funnel and a portion of the glass tubing are exposed on the side of
the stopper that will be inside the flask.


(NO CHECKMARK) 

Step 3. To the exposed end of the glass tubing, attach the 6 inch
section of rubber tubing. At the other end of the rubber tubing insert
the medicine dropper.  

(NO CHECKMARK)

Step 4.   Insert the medicine dropper into the one hole stopper and
LOOSELY insert the stopper into the 500 ml flask filled with 300 ml
water.  


(NO CHECKMARK)

Step 5. Put some goggles on and slowly open the addition funnel valve
to allow water into the 250 ml flask.  A significant amount of heat
will evolve.

..........................................................................
..........................................................................


I ain't no scientific chemist, but I know there's some kinda pattern here, 
or some code shit, why the lone checkmark, nobody does just one checkmark,
 it don't make sense.

Write to:

Paully (the pen) POPi
Crime Reporter
Centerville Tribune
FBI Witness Relocation Program
Centerville Nebraska
 
        
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: correction to HI FAQ
   Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 19:37:24 -0700 (MST)
   From: drz@dangerous-minds.com

While looking over The Hydriodic Acid Faq 1.0, I noticed an error which 
needs to be corrected. Archivers please append this to your files.

In the first part of the FAQ, the author gives the weights and formulas
for 
the relevant chemicals. In that section he says:

"Red phosphorus has the chemical symbol P.  In its 
stable form, phosphorus occurs as four molecules bound 
together, P4.  It has a formula weight of 30.973. 1 mol 
of phosphorus has a mass of 30.973 grams."

this is correct but ambiguous.

Phosphorus (P4) has a formula weight of 123.9 This is the yellow
variety.
Phosphorus (P) has a formula weight of 30.9 as stated. this is the red
variety.

Either form will work provided the correct amount is used, though the
physical 
properties of the red variety lend themselves better to the procedure
given in the 
FAQ.( red P is already in powder form and does not need to be ground
first. P4 
would need to be ground first - in small amounts and with great caution)

That last sentence should read as:

1 mol of RED phosphorus has a mass of 30.973 grams.

the author later goes on to make calculations using the wrong FW's:

"16(H20) + 10(I2) + 2(P4) ---> 20(HI) + 4(H3PO4) +P4"

this equation is correct and balances, but is based on 
P4, not P and later confuses his figures.  For consist-
ency's sake the 2(P4) should be replaced with 8(P), since 
the discussion concerns P.

The confusion begins when the author states:

"16 mol H2O = 288.82 milliliters of water
10 mol I2 = 2538.09 grams
2 mol P4 = 61.95 grams
20 mol HI = 2558.24 grams
4 mol H3PO4 = 399.98 milliliters
1 mol P4 = 30.97 grams"


2 mol of P4 = 247.8 grams. 61.95 grams is 2 mol of P

the author then derives a procedure for making 300 ml 57% hydriodic acid
from 
the above figures, using the following proportions:

"198.42 grams Iodine
4.84 grams red phosphorus"

However, he was using the molarity of P4 and the molar
weight of P, resulting in much less phosphorus being added 
than required for the reaction. The proper amount of phosphorus
(either form)would be 19.36 grams. Following the procedure as 
written would yield approximately 29% hydriodic acid, hardly 
strong enough for most purposes. Ironicly, the author himself 
warns against such mistakes:

"If the quantities of the chemicals are changed at all, do it
 proportionally!!  If they are not changed proportionally, 
another reaction could occur involving the production of a phos-
phoric acid, and  much less HI than the method detailed."

but nobody is perfect and it was very nice of him to compile the FAQ in
the first place. 
It does illustrate the first rule of chemistry:

DOUBLECHECK YOUR FIGURES!!! 

This was a pretty harmless mistake, but it could cost you some fingers
in a different reaction.
Verify everything, especially if it comes off the internet.

Additional cautions:

The iodine crystals should be finely ground. 
Use a breather and NEVER grind two chemicals at once.
An ice bath for the reaction flask would be a nice touch, 
especially if the reaction is scaled up.
The more you scale it up, the more slowly you have to add the water...
unless you consider eyepatches fashionable.

Be cool.
-DrZ



