Received via Whatsapp earlier this morning:
Important Warning from S.A. PoliceThieves are putting Jeyes Fluid, tin foil, and a little water in plastic drink bottles and capping it up - leaving it on lawns, in mail boxes, in gardens, on driveways etc. just waiting for you to pick it up intending to put it in the rubbish, but you ll never make it!!!
If the bottle is picked up, and the bottle is shaken even just a little - in about 30 seconds or less it builds up enough gas which then explodes with enough force to remove some of your extremities.
The liquid that comes out is boiling hot as well. Don t pick up any plastic bottles that may be lying in your yards or in the gutter, etc.
Pay attention to this: A plastic bottle with a cap. A little Jeyes. A little water. A small piece of foil. Trying to disturb it by moving it - and BOOM!!
No fingers left and other serious effects to your face, eyes, etc.
Please ensure that everyone that may not have email access is also informed of this.
Kol. Cor Snel
PRETORIA
- Cell: 084 678 4302
- Fax: 086 643 5007’
ETA: OK, I’ve now made the mixture as per the recipe above. It is well known that Aluminium (foil) will react with strong acids and bases and give off hydrogen. But Jeyes Fluid contains tar acids, of which I know nothing. They do sound kinda organic, though, and as such cannot be very strong. Nevertheless, herewith my results:
t=00 min No increase in temperature from ambient 21oC. No liberation of bubbles. No visible colour change.
t=05 min Still squat.
t=20 min Bugger-all.
t=50 min Mixture has turned more opaque (gone from dark brown clear to dark brown milky)
I’m going to shake the mixture in about an hour’s time. If you don’t hear from me again, kindly consider the Whatsapp message validated.
Rigil