2.2 LIST OF USEFUL HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS AND THEIR AVAILABILITY

Anyone can get many chemicals from hardware stores, supermarkets, and drug stores to get the materials to make explosives or other dangerous compounds. A would-be terrorist would merely need a station wagon and some money to acquire many of the chemicals named here.

Chemical                Used In                         Available at
________                _______                         ____________

_____________________________________________________________________________
alcohol, ethyl *       alcoholic beverages            liquor stores
                       solvents (95% min. for both)   hardware stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
ammonia +              CLEAR household ammonia        supermarkets/7-eleven
_____________________________________________________________________________
ammonium               instant-cold paks,             drug stores,
nitrate                fertilizers                    medical supply stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
nitrous oxide          pressurizing whip cream        party supply stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
magnesium              firestarters                   surplus/camping stores
____________________________________________________________________________
lecithin               vitamins                       pharmacies/drug stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
mineral oil            cooking, laxative              supermarket/drug stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
mercury @              mercury thermometers      supermarkets/hardware stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
sulfuric acid          uncharged car batteries        automotive stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
glycerine                     ?                       pharmacies/drug stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
sulfur                 gardening                     gardening/hardware store
_____________________________________________________________________________
charcoal               charcoal grills          supermarkets/gardening stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
sodium nitrate         fertilizer                     gardening store
_____________________________________________________________________________
cellulose (cotton)     first aid                   drug/medical supply stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
strontium nitrate      road flares                    surplus/auto stores,
_____________________________________________________________________________
fuel oil               kerosene stoves                surplus/camping stores,
_____________________________________________________________________________
bottled gas            propane stoves                 surplus/camping stores,
_____________________________________________________________________________
potassium permanganate water purification             purification plants
_____________________________________________________________________________
hexamine or            hexamine stoves                surplus/camping stores
methenamine            (camping)
_____________________________________________________________________________
nitric acid ^          cleaning printing              printing shops
                       plates                         photography stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
iodine &               first aid                      drug stores
_____________________________________________________________________________
sodium perchlorate     solidox pellets                hardware stores
                       for cutting torches
_____________________________________________________________________________

notes:

ethyl alcohol is mixed with methyl alcohol when it is used as a: solvent. Methyl alcohol is very poisonous. Solvent alcohol must be at least 95% ethyl alcohol if it is used to make mercury fulminate. Methyl alcohol may prevent mercury fulminate from forming.
Ammonia, when bought in stores comes in a variety of forms. The: pine and cloudy ammonias should not be bought; only the clear ammonia should be used to make ammonium triiodide crystals.
Mercury thermometers are becoming a rarity, unfortunately. They: may be hard to find in most stores. Mercury is also used in mercury switches, which are available at electronics stores. Mercury is a hazardous substance, and should be kept in the thermometer or mercury switch until used. It gives off mercury vapors which will cause brain damage if inhaled. For this reason, it is a good idea not to spill mercury, and to always use it outdoors. Also, do not get it in an open cut; rubber gloves will help prevent this.
Nitric acid is very difficult to find nowadays. It is usually: stolen by bomb makers, or made by the process described in a later section. A desired concentration for making explosives about 70%.
The iodine sold in drug stores is usually not the pure crystaline: form that is desired for producing ammonium triiodide crystals. To obtain the pure form, it must usually be acquired by a doctor's prescription, but this can be expensive. Once again, theft is the means that terrorists result to.

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