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2008 January Slush
(UL)Roping A Deer
(Hmmm)Tiger, not lion, kills 1, injurs 2
(DA)Slippery When Wet
(DA)Pulled into the abyss
(Hmm)White Spirit IS Flammable
(?)VA Man Shot to Death While Beating
(DA)Not a Shred of Sense
(DA)Chest Piercing Electrocution
(?)Un-happy slapper
(?)Need for Speed
(?)Great Balls of Fire!
(?)Had big balls.
(?)Rich and Overconfident
(DA)Sneaking Across
Conveyor belt outlasts runner
(?)Let Me Get a Better Look!
(DA)A series of Im-Pined Events
(HM)Home Made IED
(?)Graffitists drown in storm drain
Skier dies after triggering avalanc
Do-I-Yourself Shock Therapry
MANS BEST FRIEND???
Rafts, Rivers, Cement and Bridges
Woman attacked twice by shark
Picnic Lunch
Holy Flaming DOH!
gangsta guns & fireworks don't mix
The high cost of gas
Police: Man Shot Himself In Genital
Auger to Heaven
Drunken driver saves beer
(NO)Disabled man turned himself into hu
Miami of Ohio University...
(?)Jumbolair Airborne BMW
Fire up the BBQ !
(several)
Man stabs self while fleeing
The Faster Method
Kinky Sex, Shocking Death
highway worker nearly earns award
Reverse Mohawk
1 shoot closes slaying case
Grafitti Vandals Drown
When Couch Potatoes Take Root.
two for one
dangerous mixture
Is half a Darwin better then none?
Do Tell
Drowned pair 'spraypainting inside
Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
Explosive Military Intelligence
Men shoot themselves in tattoo atte
Making Deadly Gas at Home
German man goes out with X-mas Tree
vodka+viagra death
Fake hanging becomes all too real
Death by Exploding toilet
Down the drain!
Pneumatic Nail Gun Surprize
One sleeper too many on rail tracks
Man Killed in Backyard Explosion
What was he doing up in that crane?
Semi-Conductor
That is one Fowl Shot
diver drowns for golf balls
Metal fence gets revenge
Burning Pants
Police Break in?
Killer Drill
Go Get the Lawnmower
Next Time Buy a Ticket!
dumest showoff driver ever
Couldn't wait to get down and party
Truck-a-Luck
dangerous dog food
They Ain't no Bo and Luke Duke!
The Blue - Handed Pikeman
Un-happy slapper
Driver found unbuckled in crash, bu
Man Shot Himself In Genitals During
He now hates that 'Tom Tom' GPS!!!
A Crocodile Poacher gets scrambled.
Bare hand versus table saw
Drunken Phone Repair
Knife thief stabs self during getaw
Belly dancing through traffic
Who knew trucks were heavy?
Man held by ankles to snap photo
Super Glue Eye Drops
Eagle explosion
Cutting up a Napalm Bomb
Escalator Misused
Flash Powder near miss
Log Jamming
Driver requires GPS Train-ing
elevator surfer
Two men dead after swimming in drai
New year buffaloe ride
freek accident
Rest in Peas
Bike VS. Train
Is Arthur still going to heaven?
Slow Learner
Hangings should never be mocked up
Strong finger for firing a pistol
unsuccessful robber shoots self in
The Death of Deadtown
Don't want to fall out of this bed!
Abused car strikes back
Goat Overcomes Man
New years Nose Ring In Brain
Dog Love
Homosexual Couple Hospitalized
Listen to your parents!
Run over getting the bins in
Man breaks neck in pool accident
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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

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Making Deadly Gas at Home

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

I as about 12 and had inherited my brother's chemistry set when he went off to college. This was a REAL Gilbert chemistry set from the 1940s, with over a hundred neat chemicals.

I ran through all the basic experiments and then decided to do something interesting: isolating elements. I soon got into the halogens and learned how to liberate bromine. Next it was chlorine, which was easy, although I used four times too much bleach to be sure and "smell it," almost gassing the house.

With these successes I decided to go after fluorine. Not considering it is one of the most reactive and dangerous gases in the world, I read up and realized that fluorspar (calcium fluoride) could be treated with sulfuric acid to make hydrofluoric acid. I happily ground up a spare mineral from my collection, added the acid from the chemistry set, and sat back to watch. Naturally I had no protective equipment on.

As the reaction commenced I realized that the test tube was beginning to turn cloudy. It suddenly occurred to me that this was the stuff used to etch glass. How long would my piping last? How long would my eyes or lungs?

I grabbed the tube and tossed it down the toilet just as the glass let go. I dropped the lid and hit the plunger as a hissing sound began. Then I shook for an hour.

After that I limited my experiments to chemicals that wouldn't eat me.

Submitted on 01/31/2008

Submitted by: Richard H Weil
Reference: Personal Account

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Ahh, 12 year olds and chemistry sets. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) such chemistry sets are mostly just a footnote these days. The worst I ever did with my chemistry set was to make a rather large amount of ammonium sulfate (stink bomb) and spill it in the garage. You certainly outdid me with your attempts to blow yourself and your toilet up! Thanks for the story, Richard!


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
Hahaha! I made caustic soda (lye) with mine - a VERY strong solution and when I tried to dispose of the evidence it ate the porcelain right off the toilet bowl. Try explaining THAT to your parental units when you are 10! Thanks for the memories, Richard.


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