Extracting Neodymium from Harddrive Magnets

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  • čas přidán 4. 11. 2023
  • I dissolve magnets to extract Nd2(SO4)3 while a bird conducts its own unrelated project nearby.
    Merch store yay: explosionsandfire.shop/
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    Music: 'Aphlygeo', taken from the able The Loser by Hoverman
    beautyworldrecords.bandcamp.c...
  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 1,5K

  • @ExtractionsAndIre
    @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +179

    Music: 'Aphlygeo', taken from the album The Loser by Hoverman
    beautyworldrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-loser

    • @cvspvr
      @cvspvr Před 6 měsíci +4

      the loser by hoverman is a sick name

    • @JohnLeePettimoreIII
      @JohnLeePettimoreIII Před 6 měsíci +10

      do you keep saying "neodyNium"?

    • @mobiousenigma
      @mobiousenigma Před 6 měsíci +2

      off topic comments...1 ya its great to crush computers on occasion 2 either loose the stash or get the beard back one without the other dosnt look right for some reason. thanks for the vids

    • @dylanmcvicker9503
      @dylanmcvicker9503 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@JohnLeePettimoreIII yeah he's got adhd

    • @pittuk6500
      @pittuk6500 Před 6 měsíci

      there is this song, "Neodymium" by Raubtier

  • @Pseudomeaningful
    @Pseudomeaningful Před 6 měsíci +1481

    “Phd candidate in laser physics” “Can’t use a torx screwdriver” Actually makes sense…

    • @frozetoze
      @frozetoze Před 6 měsíci +199

      "I'm a scientist not an engineer."

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +423

      you should see how bad it gets when I have to do laser repair and break out the multimeter.....

    • @jacobtrapp3772
      @jacobtrapp3772 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@ExtractionsAndIre everyone looking like aw shit the shed mad scientist is about to blow up the laser by accidentally using mcdonalds napkins that were nitrated to wipe off the lenses

    • @FlatBroke612
      @FlatBroke612 Před 6 měsíci +23

      @@frozetozeengineers can’t use any screwdriver either...

    • @phimuskapsi
      @phimuskapsi Před 6 měsíci +28

      @@ExtractionsAndIre Suddenly the homer gif of cereal catching on fire springs to mind.

  • @mrgreenguy
    @mrgreenguy Před 6 měsíci +468

    75% Neodymium, 25% bird feathers. Decent yield!

  • @leotills3017
    @leotills3017 Před 6 měsíci +370

    I love this channel. I am an appliance technician of 25 years. I believe it's safe to advise you to stick with chemistry. Seeing you fight with the Torx driver along with your description of it, I feel that if you refrain from any kind of mechanical engineering, it will be the best for everyone involved

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +174

      I agree tremendously

    • @deutscher1a
      @deutscher1a Před 5 měsíci +1

      and here i am as a chemical technician, having to work as a chemikant... i just wanted a lab and because i knew how to use tools, i had to work on a big prototype AND analyse all my own results - for really low benefits(getting to choose my own working time, cause of my independency, was nice tho)

  • @alext6933
    @alext6933 Před 6 měsíci +230

    It's always unfortunate when a random bird takes over your entire lab and claims it for themselves.

    • @JohnnyWednesday
      @JohnnyWednesday Před 6 měsíci +26

      Until the bird starts using the hotplate, it can be considered a harmonious existence.

    • @michaelimbesi2314
      @michaelimbesi2314 Před 6 měsíci +28

      10 years from now, the EPA will end up having to track that bird because of all of the chemicals it will have absorbed, and we’ll finally learn where the cadmium went 😜

    • @anonymousperson2886
      @anonymousperson2886 Před 6 měsíci +3

      You may not like it, but it's the circle of life. You have to respect it

  • @adrunkenloner
    @adrunkenloner Před 6 měsíci +1693

    What a fancy lab you have, those automatic bird synthesizers are a luxury many industries cannot afford

    • @IdiotPosterBoy
      @IdiotPosterBoy Před 6 měsíci +67

      Having an in-lab source of white dielectric matter is quite advanced.

    • @JohnnyWednesday
      @JohnnyWednesday Před 6 měsíci +21

      Then you're in the wrong industry my friend! shop around until you land those sweet, sweet bird perks.

    • @JeffUseekay
      @JeffUseekay Před 6 měsíci +41

      I'm especially jealous of his lab-grade plastic fork

    • @awsomewolfman124
      @awsomewolfman124 Před 6 měsíci +5

      ​@JeffUseekay Can't find them in Australia he has to have them imported at a premium!

    • @andrewswanson4819
      @andrewswanson4819 Před měsícem

      Drone synthesizers

  • @katetanner28
    @katetanner28 Před 6 měsíci +3187

    How dare you post this video when I am 37 hours from having to submit my honours thesis on lanthanoid magnets, which has applications in quantum computing. You've given my procrastination brain exactly what it wants! Something that feels productive, but ultimately isn't writing the chapter I still haven't finished

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +1167

      Best of luck mate!! You’ve got this, do the final push and then you can reward yourself by destroying a computer or magnet afterwards!!

    • @jeffstaples347
      @jeffstaples347 Před 6 měsíci +99

      YOU GOT THIS!!!

    • @rorysparshott4223
      @rorysparshott4223 Před 6 měsíci +149

      Just keep applying energy drinks to the problem and eventually it will go away

    • @Emiko1
      @Emiko1 Před 6 měsíci +30

      Mate, wishing you the best of luck.

    • @scthomas1982
      @scthomas1982 Před 6 měsíci +1

      ​@@rorysparshott4223no! I blame my kidney stones on them! Keep away from them and stick to strong coffee with sugar

  • @Juni_Dingo
    @Juni_Dingo Před 6 měsíci +53

    31:05 "Wherever you are bird, keep working on that project. It'll... it'll get there"
    I did not expect something this wholesome, but honestly I needed to hear that ;w;

  • @mr.sandman770
    @mr.sandman770 Před 6 měsíci +122

    Hey Tom, those metal brackets that the magnets are attached to are made from mu metal, a Nickel alloy that weakens magnetic forces. It shields the other components of the computer from the magnetic field. They are about 77-80% nickel and are heat treated in a hydrogen atmosphere to achieve a super high magnetic permeability. It should be possible to get a lot of nickel from them if you need it.

    • @MabusParodies2nd
      @MabusParodies2nd Před 6 měsíci +24

      I think this might be true for older hard drive magnets, and not anymore for newer ones. I have taken apart a lot of hard drives, and I've tested dozens of the brackets, and there was no nickel visible. Other people on the Sciencemadness forum tried the same and they couldn't recover any significant nickel, just iron.

    • @mr.sandman770
      @mr.sandman770 Před 6 měsíci +13

      @@MabusParodies2nd I see, that is unfortunate.

  • @Duda286
    @Duda286 Před 6 měsíci +491

    "Even though the computers might control our lives, every so often we can dissolve a couple in acid and feel better about things."
    - & Ire, Extractions. 2023

    • @dsnineteen
      @dsnineteen Před 6 měsíci +9

      I legitimately want this on some kind of plaque or poster.

    • @christopheroliver148
      @christopheroliver148 Před 5 měsíci +4

      @@dsnineteenAs a four decade veteran of the computer fields, I think this is first class T Shirt material. I'm sure many in computer science/informatics would agree.

  • @Mr.Beauregarde
    @Mr.Beauregarde Před 6 měsíci +198

    Imagine getting here so early the Cubane still hasn't been synthesized

  • @Fireheart318
    @Fireheart318 Před 6 měsíci +15

    4:05 - I used to work as a “computer butcher”. It’s not your fault, those harddrive screws were a pain in the ass to deal with! We eventually got a small industrial shredder to destroy the drives with, and it was so much fun to watch ‘em get chewed up!

    • @christopheroliver148
      @christopheroliver148 Před 4 měsíci +2

      I don't have anything that good, but I have melted and shattered drive plates when I've removed them if the dead drive had anything sensitive on it.

  • @OscomProductions
    @OscomProductions Před 6 měsíci +39

    The story arc of the bird was very well developed and was crucial to the plot of the video! Masterfully done Tom!

  • @zoidflanders1709
    @zoidflanders1709 Před 6 měsíci +744

    That was incredible! I don't think you said neodymium correctly once!

    • @jogandsp
      @jogandsp Před 6 měsíci +33

      He said the first m as an n every time 😭

    • @mattbuchanan2580
      @mattbuchanan2580 Před 6 měsíci +5

      That's how I say it. Please explain, I hate saying words incorrectly. Thanks!

    • @Gr0nal
      @Gr0nal Před 6 měsíci +46

      ​@@mattbuchanan2580 It is spelled with an "m" not an "n". The only "n" in the word is the first letter. Its name was given from the greek words "neos" and "didymos".
      Neo - dym - ium. "ium" is a common prefix of metallic elements.

    • @nkchak
      @nkchak Před 6 měsíci +13

      @@Gr0nal This was a much more specific answer than I expected to see.

    • @mattsoup4121
      @mattsoup4121 Před 6 měsíci +20

      Just call it neodydlium and you'll feel better.

  • @DefconMaster
    @DefconMaster Před 6 měsíci +315

    Came for the chemistry, stayed for the bird

    • @aeriumsoft
      @aeriumsoft Před 6 měsíci +2

      wonder what species that birb was

    • @GordonWeedman
      @GordonWeedman Před 6 měsíci +4

      @@aeriumsoft Pretty sure it was a blackbird.

    • @maxsmith8196
      @maxsmith8196 Před 6 měsíci +1

      I’m still here for the bird hours later

    • @aeriumsoft
      @aeriumsoft Před 6 měsíci

      @@GordonWeedman seems very likely, i was just a bit confused at first since those kinda birds dont really exist in australia usually, appearently its an introduced species
      birb

    • @dieSpinnt
      @dieSpinnt Před 5 měsíci

      @@GordonWeedman Yeah, clearly of the genus "Turdus".
      And don't get confused, as the females are sprinkled and brown to be better disguised in a nest in a tree as in the video.
      Well, chemical experience and a nervous CZcamsr also protect from predators, I think. That's why she build in front of a white painted wall.
      ... and surely for new Subscribers! Hehehe

  • @WiztotheIzzard
    @WiztotheIzzard Před 6 měsíci +100

    I was doing this a while back, on the ScienceMadness forums.
    Hitting the magnets with a propane torch made it very easy to physically peel off the nickel plating.
    Dissolving and filtering a hot solution of magnets and sulfuric acid made it easy to separate the insoluble boron and flecks of missed nickel coating, but *some* does dissolve and will crash out when the solution cools as a very fluffy boric acid crystals. Once cleaned, this doesn't affect the rest of the process much.
    Once you have this filtered solution of Fe and Nd sulfates, this is further differentiated by heating to ~60*C to boil off water just until some of the Nd starts crystallizing out, then slowly cooling to

    • @gabepesco
      @gabepesco Před 6 měsíci

      Did you end up making magnets with the results? Cool stuff regardless!

    • @Jefferson-ly5qe
      @Jefferson-ly5qe Před 6 měsíci +3

      Gold. Sounds like crashing out the iron rather than the neodymium is what Tom needed to try.

    • @quint3ssent1a
      @quint3ssent1a Před 4 měsíci

      I think crushing magnets into smaller chips helps to dissolve things. Hard to dissolve a whole fucking magnet in weak acid.

  • @DigitalJedi
    @DigitalJedi Před 6 měsíci +8

    As a computer engineer I can confirm, sometimes you just need to break a computer. My preferred method is waaaaaaaay to much voltage or current into something important, but acid is good too. I do have to reccomend the electricity approach though. Motherboards blow up real good.

  • @Bill-lt5qf
    @Bill-lt5qf Před 6 měsíci +72

    Name another chemistry channel that has baby birds hatching as a sub plot. You can't.

    • @EggBastion
      @EggBastion Před 6 měsíci +2

      AvE

    • @NGC1433
      @NGC1433 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@EggBastion he also features Neodidlium magnets a lot. :)

  • @kronusaerospace8872
    @kronusaerospace8872 Před 6 měsíci +49

    I for one approve the introduction of Birdwatching segments. As an American I was initially confused by the label of "Blackbird" to what is clearly a Thrush. But I learned that's just what this particular species is called in Europe and Australia, and that the blackbird family here in the states got its name due to apparent visual Similarity between them and this particular species, although the new world Blackbirds are a family group unrelated to Thrushes and by extension the European Blackbird.

    • @GiBBO5700
      @GiBBO5700 Před 6 měsíci +14

      This guy 'birds' 👆

    • @brydenquirk1176
      @brydenquirk1176 Před 6 měsíci +1

      African or European?

    • @kronusaerospace8872
      @kronusaerospace8872 Před 6 měsíci +5

      @@brydenquirk1176 both I suppose. The Common Blackbird ranges through part of north western Africa, most of Europe, and southern Asia. Being artificially introduced to Australia and other parts of Oceania.

    • @AedanTheGrey
      @AedanTheGrey Před 26 dny

      Elks all over again

  • @evieveeveeyt
    @evieveeveeyt Před 6 měsíci +11

    The high speed of you smashing the hard drive plates with the hammer is maybe one of the coolest high speeds I have ever seen, it's so COLORFUL!

  • @AJGoff110
    @AJGoff110 Před 6 měsíci +9

    Those really were some pretty crystals. It's always nice when your suffering is at least aesthetically pleasing.

  • @-eMpTy-
    @-eMpTy- Před 6 měsíci +522

    There's always another screw under the label of these hard drives, very easy to miss if you've never taken one apart 😁

    • @DoubsGaming
      @DoubsGaming Před 6 měsíci +45

      True, until you Remember that companies are assholes. I guess hard drive manufacturers kind of get a pass because they're doing NASA level precision but my point still stands.
      Void if removed stickers are illegal.

    • @JohnnyWednesday
      @JohnnyWednesday Před 6 měsíci +18

      @@DoubsGaming - NASA precision is pretty poor nowadays, especially when it comes to the decimal place in manufacturing costs.

    • @Sniperboy5551
      @Sniperboy5551 Před 6 měsíci +5

      @DoubsGaming Void if removed stickers are illegal?

    • @Valsorayu
      @Valsorayu Před 6 měsíci +11

      @@Sniperboy5551 In Australia, yeah.

    • @Merry-36280
      @Merry-36280 Před 6 měsíci +11

      @@Sniperboy5551 They're not illegal to put on products, but are unenforceable in the US.

  • @Stealth86651
    @Stealth86651 Před 6 měsíci +321

    Another video on "Australian dude does alchemy". Watching this just convinces me science is actually magic and everyone involved with the industry just doesn't want to admit it yet.

    • @youtubeSuckssNow
      @youtubeSuckssNow Před 6 měsíci +23

      Magic is just science we don't understand yet.

    • @redhel
      @redhel Před 6 měsíci +36

      @@youtubeSuckssNow so in other words, science is magic we do understand

    • @youtubeSuckssNow
      @youtubeSuckssNow Před 6 měsíci +16

      @@redhel basically.
      Just look back through history at what people considered magic. Its mostly just science now.

    • @JohnnyWednesday
      @JohnnyWednesday Před 6 měsíci +13

      @@youtubeSuckssNow - Science is science we don't understand yet - ergo all science is magic and Tom is a wizard or possibly a sorcerer. Although if he were a wizard he'd have a penchant for stars, which we don't see and if he were a sorcerer you'd expect his parents would have used their powers to fix his pronunciation of Neodymium which we don't see. So probably a warlock - would explain all the beasts that he commands.

    • @Frommerman
      @Frommerman Před 6 měsíci +10

      Any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic.
      Any sufficiently examined magic is indistinguishable from science.
      Any science distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.

  • @theshannonlimit1114
    @theshannonlimit1114 Před 6 měsíci +9

    Fun fact, neyodimium iton boron magnets are pyrophoric, and once the nickel has been peeled off, they can be used with a file or stone as a fire starter.

  • @CrittingOut
    @CrittingOut Před 6 měsíci +3

    It's so funny how this random bird joins the video and becomes motivation to overcome the magnet struggle

  • @jannikgluckert8501
    @jannikgluckert8501 Před 6 měsíci +461

    I think you should've treated the magnets with sandpaper / a belt sander to get rid of the coating.

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +281

      Honestly a very reasonable suggestion !

    • @guicky_
      @guicky_ Před 6 měsíci +43

      belt sander might be dangerous if the magnet sticks to the sander

    • @poogle9368
      @poogle9368 Před 6 měsíci +2

      true lmao

    • @emmanueleferrarotto2986
      @emmanueleferrarotto2986 Před 6 měsíci +66

      First some cooking against magnetism then some grinding for some nickel poisoning ^^

    • @Blacktronics
      @Blacktronics Před 6 měsíci +24

      @@emmanueleferrarotto2986 wet sanding helps with dust control a lot

  • @yxlotl
    @yxlotl Před 6 měsíci +155

    hey tom!
    thank you for making these silly chemistry videos
    i've been going through some nasty medical issues (due to disability) and ive been watching your videos to keep me company when no one else can.
    thank you for everything you do.

    • @g-radical349
      @g-radical349 Před 6 měsíci +29

      Hey friend, I'm in the same boat going through the same thing, and have also found myself watching a lot more of Tom's awesome videos for the feel good vibes :) I celebrated my one year anniversary of my survival last week, and it's only been since then that I've felt comfortable even using the word 'disability'. I don't know what you're going through specifically but I can understand and empathise. Hope you're getting by and finding the joys in the simple things where you can!

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +70

      Hey mate, wishing you all the best- really glad you like the videos, they’re super fun to make and it’s great to be able to share them and sort of hang out with people that way yeah

    • @mattbuchanan2580
      @mattbuchanan2580 Před 6 měsíci +6

      Hang in there sir. I'm in the same boat sir. Tom's videos are so witty and technical very creative. It tickles your funny bone and feeds your brain. A least it's my experience. Be well sir.

    • @diggysoze2897
      @diggysoze2897 Před 6 měsíci +4

      Twenty years into disability, I can safely say you’ll get used to it. Where applicable, make sure to exercise all of the other stuffs.
      And be dubious of any and every time a surgery is suggested as a solution.

    • @emilyrln
      @emilyrln Před 6 měsíci

      Hey, if you're looking for recommendations, Combo Class has a very similar vibe to Explosions and Fire imo. Domotro could be Tom's American twin 😂

  • @hellofafella
    @hellofafella Před 6 měsíci +6

    finally, beautiful chemistry instead of yellow over and over again

  • @BonnibelLecter
    @BonnibelLecter Před 6 měsíci +5

    The bird subplot somehow really added to this, thank you

  • @danwhite3224
    @danwhite3224 Před 6 měsíci +80

    Those brackets that the magnets stick to in the drives are made of mu-metal, a cool nickel-iron alloy that's really good for magnetic shielding.

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +51

      Interesting! I have kept the pile somewhere… I think…

    • @JohnnyWednesday
      @JohnnyWednesday Před 6 měsíci +63

      it's pronounced Nu-metal and they're called Korn plates

    • @darkmann12
      @darkmann12 Před 6 měsíci +4

      bwahahahahahaha@@JohnnyWednesday

    • @thisguy00
      @thisguy00 Před 6 měsíci +3

      Oh wa ah ah ah! 🤘🤘

    • @volvo09
      @volvo09 Před 6 měsíci

      I was wondering what that was since the brackets don't act like steel.

  • @whateverIwasthinkingatthetime
    @whateverIwasthinkingatthetime Před 6 měsíci +7

    I love the midway B-plot going on in the video with waiting for the eggs to hatch.

  • @Finnnicus
    @Finnnicus Před 6 měsíci +25

    If you can figure out a way to hold the solution at a high temperature and limit the evaporation for a few days , you could probably grow some very nice crystals. Also if you'd like to follow this up for hihg purity I have access to an ICP-AES, I'm the guy that did your cubane NMR a couple of years ago. QUT seems to be doing a good job though, all I can really offer is a few extra digits of precision haha

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +14

      Oh hi mate!! Thanks for the offer- it would have been embarrassing for me to ask for ICPMS assuming it’s trace iron and it comes back as 30% iron…
      I wish I could work with a local analytical company closer to me, maybe even film the machines, as it’s cool tech that’s not often talked about publicly!

  • @zedfragg4134
    @zedfragg4134 Před 6 měsíci +14

    Can't believe the birds hatched.
    That's awesome.
    Also stuff with magnets! lol
    Love a magnet.

  • @intellectualiconoclasm3264
    @intellectualiconoclasm3264 Před 6 měsíci +74

    I'm @10:30 and I think your easier solution is run them through the ball mill. Then put powder into water and agitate with a covered magnet in the water. The Nickle should adhere and also settle later then the ceramic core material.

  • @tonybeaumont8289
    @tonybeaumont8289 Před 6 měsíci +11

    That slomo clip of the hammer shattering the hard drive platter is glorious 4:58

  • @VoIcanoman
    @VoIcanoman Před 6 měsíci +3

    I think another explanation for the different colours of precipitates of neodymium sulphate is crystal size and orientation. Research has been done in using both neodymium and samarium salts in paper money, to prevent counterfeiting, because the way the crystal structure is oriented with respect to the incident light source can apparently cause it to change colours. So slight changes in the overall distribution of crystals within a sample could bias the colour in one direction or another. I'm not actually sure if this is what's going on, but it is a known phenomenon.

  • @losernob8618
    @losernob8618 Před 6 měsíci +3

    The ending with the birds was awesome 🙂

  • @NijahPlays
    @NijahPlays Před 6 měsíci +57

    I always love taking apart them for the extra strong fridge magnets

    • @buillioncubes
      @buillioncubes Před 6 měsíci +9

      I keep one in my truck for plucking stray metal bits out of my eye.

    • @squarerootof2
      @squarerootof2 Před 6 měsíci +3

      @@buillioncubes Will it work for eye floaters?

    • @buillioncubes
      @buillioncubes Před 6 měsíci +2

      @@squarerootof2 Just the ferrous ones :P

    • @squarerootof2
      @squarerootof2 Před 6 měsíci +3

      @@buillioncubes Good, the ferrocious are the worst and most aggressive kind.

    • @markiangooley
      @markiangooley Před 6 měsíci +1

      Two of my fridge magnets used to be in hard drives. They hold up the calendar on my fridge.

  • @F.D.O.T.S.
    @F.D.O.T.S. Před 6 měsíci +29

    The man,
    the myth,
    The Mustache...

    • @wernerhiemer406
      @wernerhiemer406 Před 6 měsíci

      Seventies, special genre. So from a non mechanic, over a chemist to an actor in biological interesting not so creating filmic event.

  • @argoneum
    @argoneum Před 6 měsíci +9

    Neodymium and iron somehow don't like to separate, what I did was adding some hydrogen peroxide to force the iron to form +3 hydroxide, then filter it. Still, took several repeats to get to any purity. Even when re-crystalizing by slow evaportaion there still was some iron left.
    Most of other lanthanide sulphates also have this reverse-solubility thing.

    • @5467nick
      @5467nick Před 6 měsíci +2

      Iron and nickel should be easy to electroplate out of a sulfate solution while leaving neodymium in the solution. Electrolysis probably isn't often an answer to a chemistry problem, but it works great for something like this. I've electroplated iron, nickel, copper, and zinc with a variable voltage (0-32V), variable current-limit (0-5A) power supply I bought online for about $50 USD. I've even used it as a spot-welder for really thin metal foil and wires, for plenty of electronics projects, for charging batteries I couldn't find the right charger for, and just for making lots of sparks by shorting it on its max settings when I'm bored.

  • @Inuyasha10121
    @Inuyasha10121 Před 6 měsíci +3

    Clearly extracting the neodymium to combine it with cubane dicarboxylate and make a metal organic framework that you yeet at a magnetic surface and the impact from the acceleration induces catalysis by detonation. I see through you Tom, you can't fool me!
    In all seriousness, brilliant stuff. I just got my PhD after 9 bloody years (I did two Masters because I'm a masochist) and in all that time I had never herd of reverse solubility before. Had to hold my head in my hands for a few minutes and contemplate the very fabric of reality

  • @MBG_Broker
    @MBG_Broker Před 6 měsíci +9

    You really have to starte writing part 1 on the end of your videos. Here I was all excited to see you finish an experiment in one video. The betrayal is real !
    Rock on, you are doing great. ;)

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +12

      Haha the problem with writing Part 1 is that I then have to do a Part 2 and I’m really bad at following up things!

  • @Sinnistering
    @Sinnistering Před 6 měsíci +40

    so i know this might seem crazy, but i would love to hear about the physics of rare earth elements. i'm one of those chem students who gets terrified when physics gets mentioned, despite knowing it really is important.

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +26

      I consider talking about it every time I bring up rare earth metals- but I never end up doing it. I hope to one day make some cool optical material in the lab, and that gives me an excuse to talk about their cool optical properties some more

  • @supernifty
    @supernifty Před 6 měsíci +4

    I like to think his parents don't know he has a CZcams channel and he's just in the shed talking to himself for all these years.

  • @Eremon1
    @Eremon1 Před 3 měsíci

    I can't express how much I love the Aussie way of doing stuff. I feel like this is the guy to make the world's first Phaser the same day he gets drunk and loses his wallet at the bar. NEVER change brother. Cheers.

  • @victor9sur768
    @victor9sur768 Před 6 měsíci +7

    you always have to add way more acid than you expect in magnet recycling, acid and peroxide mix is always a good go to for the dissolution of metal massive

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +6

      Effective but kinda scary yeah!

    • @victor9sur768
      @victor9sur768 Před 6 měsíci +4

      @@ExtractionsAndIre more scary with a cobalt metal that catalysed the peroxide decomposition....the fumehood was pretty fucked after that

    • @stamasd8500
      @stamasd8500 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@victor9sur768 haha I can vouch to that. I was recently trying to recreate a cobalt-doped iron oxide composition (Type II magnetic material used in vintage audio tapes) by precipitating iron(II) hydroxide from an iron(II) sulfate solution with NaOH, then oxidizing it to iron(III) hydroxide with H2O2, and then doping the crystals with a little cobalt before thermal decomposition... I used a small excess hydrogen peroxide because I wanted the oxidation to be complete and it's hard to judge the end point by color (goes from a muddy brown to a slightly less muddy brown). And when I added the cobalt sulfate, it suddenly foamed... A LOT. Surprise! :D
      Guess cobalt hydroxide is a good catalyst for that too.

    • @MandrakeFernflower
      @MandrakeFernflower Před 6 měsíci

      ​@@ExtractionsAndIrewould royal water have worked to dissolve up everything?

  • @locouk
    @locouk Před 6 měsíci +3

    The early bird loves this channel so much. She’s moved in!

  • @chir0pter
    @chir0pter Před 6 měsíci +12

    I don’t think he pronounced it “Neodymium” once in the entire video 😂

  • @CardinalSinOfCake
    @CardinalSinOfCake Před 6 měsíci +3

    "This channel is not about easy projects, it's about suffering. *Heh heh heh heh*"
    I cannot stop laughing at this 🤣

  • @CreamAle
    @CreamAle Před 6 měsíci +63

    Neodiddlium magnets are pretty neat.
    It's pretty insane how strong those things can be.

    • @rickyrico80
      @rickyrico80 Před 6 měsíci +5

      Keep the fingertips clear or you're in for one hell of a surprise 🤣

    • @IceBergGeo
      @IceBergGeo Před 6 měsíci +6

      ​@@DomDada2naw, just an AvErage CZcams watcher.

    • @joshuaolander201
      @joshuaolander201 Před 6 měsíci +1

      ​@IceBergGeo as soon as I read neodiddlium I knew you were a fan of aVe

    • @IceBergGeo
      @IceBergGeo Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@joshuaolander201 likely where the likes for my subtle reply are from...

  • @petrkryze
    @petrkryze Před 6 měsíci +6

    The mystical australian NeodyNium magnets :D love the mustache btw!

  • @jonathanwienke512
    @jonathanwienke512 Před 6 měsíci +3

    "Even though the computers might control our lives, every so often we can dissolve a couple in acid and feel better about things."
    Best.
    Mad.
    Scientist.
    Quote.
    Ever.

  • @jimsvideos7201
    @jimsvideos7201 Před 6 měsíci +5

    I don't have much depth in chemistry, but I hear you on the suffering and admire your persistence in the face of it.

  • @user-OG-g
    @user-OG-g Před 6 měsíci +15

    Great video mate . I too was caught up in the procrastination cycle and stumbled upon the new video and it was exactly what my brain needed. A video that felt productive but ultimately wasn’t dealing with any of the things I need to focus on. Much appreciated 😂

  • @TheReaper1799
    @TheReaper1799 Před 6 měsíci +12

    Thanks for shining a light on Neodynium, hadn't even heard of that element before!

    • @Punnikin1969
      @Punnikin1969 Před 6 měsíci +7

      Seriously? Have you never seen a nagnet before?

    • @weirdalfan08
      @weirdalfan08 Před 6 měsíci +2

      @@Punnikin1969 Doesnt mean you know what its made of. I hadn't heard the name either because this is the only science thing i have watched past finishing high school. You got some sort of superpower that tells you the exact elements something is made from when you look at it?

    • @Punnikin1969
      @Punnikin1969 Před 6 měsíci

      @@weirdalfan08 Nope, just basic literacy. Read the post and reply again. Slowly if it'll help.

    • @weirdalfan08
      @weirdalfan08 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@Punnikin1969 Ah i get it, you are a just a dickhead, no worries!

    • @nathanieljames7462
      @nathanieljames7462 Před 6 měsíci

      ​@@Punnikin1969Hilarious reply all things considered 😆

  • @THE_REDACTED
    @THE_REDACTED Před 6 měsíci +24

    Pointed scalpel blades have always been pretty effective for removing that nickel coating from the magnets. You can get it underneath and kinda peel it away. In a hurry a sanding wheel attachment for a dremel is pretty quick but also messy and shrapnel-producing.

    • @VoIcanoman
      @VoIcanoman Před 6 měsíci +8

      Actually, I was thinking he should've just secured the magnet in a vice, and just go at it with a bit of sandpaper. The nickel metal is likely far softer than the magnet it covers up, so it shouldn't be too difficult to just abrade it away while leaving the magnet untouched.
      However, Extractions & Ire is all about the struggle, about doing things in the most difficult and non-intuitive way imaginable, fighting against the very laws of physics and chemistry to eventually, maybe, achieve (usually just partial) success. So doing things in a way that made sense would be extremely off-brand for this channel.

    • @THE_REDACTED
      @THE_REDACTED Před 6 měsíci

      @@VoIcanoman fair point :D

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +5

      A lot of comments about how unhealthy the nickel/cobalt metal dust is… kinda glad I didn’t aggressively sand a lot of magnets!

    • @THE_REDACTED
      @THE_REDACTED Před 6 měsíci +1

      Metal dust = Bad and cringe
      Going crazy with a power tool = fun and based
      Benefit outweighs cost

  • @longsincelost6284
    @longsincelost6284 Před 6 měsíci +2

    I discovered by accident that a couple of days of HCL vapor exposure will corrode the iron under the nickel coating and very neatly flake it off.

  • @misanthrophex
    @misanthrophex Před 6 měsíci +12

    You have no idea how much my heart broke watching you break the hard drives...
    There are screws hidden behind the paper you know...

    • @TurkeyMeat
      @TurkeyMeat Před 6 měsíci +9

      Yeah but that involves less violence

    • @noodlelynoodle.
      @noodlelynoodle. Před 6 měsíci +1

      I mean it's the same end result if he pulled the screws out and that's way less fun

  • @michaeltalaganis6518
    @michaeltalaganis6518 Před 6 měsíci

    Great video mate! I love your editing style and humor. Keep up the awesome videos and chemistry. The ominous trance music was sweet.

  • @a15thcenturysuitofgothicarmor
    @a15thcenturysuitofgothicarmor Před 6 měsíci +3

    Wasn't expecting the wholesome bird arc but im here for it.

  • @thehyperscientist1961
    @thehyperscientist1961 Před 6 měsíci +8

    I guess one other thing you could try is oxidising the solution and adding oxalate. The iron should remain in solution as a ferrioxalate complex while any transition metals and lanthanides precipitate out. I'd guess it'd be a bit easier to separate then.

  • @mattymerr701
    @mattymerr701 Před 6 měsíci +3

    You were defeated by some small screws, no wonder you struggled with the UV step

    • @ExtractionsAndIre
      @ExtractionsAndIre  Před 6 měsíci +4

      I’m not a quitter- but I am easily defeated haha. It’s a bad combination!

    • @mattymerr701
      @mattymerr701 Před 6 měsíci +1

      ​@@ExtractionsAndIre I'm glad you didn't give up though. The content was worth the struggle

  • @l0chj3ss
    @l0chj3ss Před 6 měsíci +3

    What an awesome introductory video. This dude is great.

  • @davidburke709
    @davidburke709 Před 6 měsíci +11

    The fact that you are doing this in Mum's shed... The world turns because of people like you. Should I ever win the lotto, I pledge to buy you a castle and an Igor. As always, I don't really know what the Hell you are doing, but it sure is fun to watch!

    • @eljanrimsa5843
      @eljanrimsa5843 Před 6 měsíci +4

      He started with making explosions like any reasonable hobby chemist. Now he is a pro and deconstructs the modern world

  • @MIH0319
    @MIH0319 Před 6 měsíci +19

    Try adding sodium sulfate to the dissolved solution of the magnet in acid. The neodymium ions form an insoluble sulfate double salt and precipitates. This can give you a better neodymium removal than simply recovering the neodymium sulfate.

    • @g-radical349
      @g-radical349 Před 6 měsíci +4

      thats interesting, but out of curiosity - how would you go about getting rid of the sodium afterwards?

    • @eddieelizabethhitler3259
      @eddieelizabethhitler3259 Před 6 měsíci +2

      ​@@g-radical349 You don't need to. When you've precipitated the neodymium salphate double salt you remove it by filtration, what's left in the solution doesn't matter.

    • @user255
      @user255 Před 6 měsíci +1

      ​@@eddieelizabethhitler3259 I don't understand what you mean. The precipitated salt is Nd2Na2(SO4)4, and when simply filtered, it is still Nd2Na2(SO4)4.

    • @g-radical349
      @g-radical349 Před 6 měsíci +1

      @@eddieelizabethhitler3259 I meant how would you remove the sodium from the double salt, so that you would just have neodymium sulfate. Is there a way to selectively dissolve the sodium from the precipitate?

    • @MIH0319
      @MIH0319 Před 6 měsíci +4

      @@g-radical349 You can boil the precipitate in concentrated NaOH to convert the neodymium to Nd(OH)3, which can be dissolved in acid to make neodymium salts.

  • @IMortalNemesisI
    @IMortalNemesisI Před 6 měsíci +4

    Magnet soup just like NaNa¹¹ used to make.

  • @tay-lore
    @tay-lore Před 6 měsíci +1

    You and that momma bird are giving me lots of encouragement to finish the project that I've been working for way too long on. We can all do this!

  • @DaftFader
    @DaftFader Před 6 měsíci +2

    "My strength is not really one of my strengths" ... that had my in tears ... I got to use that at some point lol!

  • @Enjoymentboy
    @Enjoymentboy Před 6 měsíci +13

    It's almost a drinking game hearing you say "neodynium" (with an N) over and over all while I can see the title of the video that clearly reads "noedyMium". But don't feel too badly. Most people over hear can't say aluminium properly. 😂

    • @insouciantFox
      @insouciantFox Před 6 měsíci +1

      But Al didn't originally have the i, a la platinum; it was the Brits who decided to add the i for aesthetic purposes.

  • @ChaosPootato
    @ChaosPootato Před 6 měsíci +4

    Those crystals look reaaally nice

  • @georgemiller2129
    @georgemiller2129 Před 6 měsíci

    On one hand I feel like I've watched your wind slowly destroy itself over years of chemistry. On the other, I'm very entertained and you seem to be enjoying yourself. So I guess keep up the good work. I love your videos.

  • @luke144
    @luke144 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Cool video!! Neodymium being more soluble in cold solution blows my mind. Love the channel!! Entertaining af. Champion efforts.

  • @benbevan3120
    @benbevan3120 Před 6 měsíci +3

    My favourite video so far purely for the new lab partner

  • @TheBackyardChemist
    @TheBackyardChemist Před 6 měsíci +3

    3:18 all it takes is for the entropy change of dissolution to have the opposite sign than usual, as usual dG = dH - T*dS explains like 80% of chemistry

  • @bngn3000
    @bngn3000 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I've had the opportunity to smash a computer while at work (full Office Space moment). It is every bit as satisfying as Tom makes it sound. 10/10 would recommend.

  • @minikretz1
    @minikretz1 Před 6 měsíci

    Glad you left in the conversation with your mom, loved the concern and rambling about animals

  • @waltermalone2953
    @waltermalone2953 Před 6 měsíci +3

    I enjoyed the commentary from your Mum. :) I hope your family makes further appearances in the future. Great video!

  • @R0bert811
    @R0bert811 Před 6 měsíci +5

    so many colors in this episode! Sorta missing Tar chemistry but crystals are cool too! You should try growing really big crystals

  • @josephcoppernoll9547
    @josephcoppernoll9547 Před 6 měsíci +1

    My favorite Australian chemboi playing with magnets, my favorite spooky magical science objects.
    What a time to be alive.

  • @GlassOmen
    @GlassOmen Před 6 měsíci

    Another great video. The reverse solubility was very interesting. The bird bit was fun too. That rose garden was beautiful.

  • @rickyrico80
    @rickyrico80 Před 6 měsíci +3

    Imagine thining Torx is some alien technology that takes a year to solve 🤣 We trust you bro 👌🏿

  • @dr.robertnick9599
    @dr.robertnick9599 Před 6 měsíci +7

    I think a hammer would be a good method to seperate the nickel plating from the ceramic core. The ceramic would crumble to sand, while the nickel would be malleable enough to turn into larger flakes. Then you can just seperate them with a sieve or some other mechanical method of seperation.

  • @topspeed250k5
    @topspeed250k5 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Your recommendation to take frustrations out on a computer (for mental health) is spot on.
    I once had a laptop with an intermittent fault which always occurred when doing something important. I couldn't afford a new one so i disassembled it, cleaned all contacts, checked power supply etc etc and thought I had it licked.
    It did it again an hour into typing up an assignment.
    I put it on the floor in the hallway, took a run-up and kicked it to glory right in the screen. Felt bloody good.
    That was the only time in my life that I resorted to violence.
    Great vid but PLEASE learn to say "neo-DIM- ium " with an M not "neo-DIN- ium" with an N.
    Hearing an intelligent educated bloke saying that was fkn annoying.
    Keep up the good work!

    • @christopheroliver148
      @christopheroliver148 Před 4 měsíci

      Back when I was taking computer science classes, I often felt like taking one of the Sun pizza boxes up to the top of a tall tower to watch it fall to the sidewalk below.

  • @tylernero6671
    @tylernero6671 Před 6 měsíci +2

    I'm pretty sure computers feel pain, and you actually put them out of their misery of ever having to run an excel spreadsheet again

  • @italoximenes8755
    @italoximenes8755 Před 6 měsíci +6

    Neodynium?

  • @joshsickles1163
    @joshsickles1163 Před 6 měsíci +4

    I think hitting the magnets with a hammer would powder the magnet and leave the foil intact. Would make it the separation easier and make it so you can hit the computer with a hammer more.

  • @Mikkelltheimmortal
    @Mikkelltheimmortal Před 6 měsíci

    I usually don't have anything to add to chemistry videos because I'm here to learn. But finally I have a piece of advice that's relevant.
    To get your magnets to dissolve better, heat them to red and drop it in cold water, next hit it with a hammer to make it shatter into pieces.

  • @JehuMcSpooran
    @JehuMcSpooran Před 5 měsíci +2

    I remember that Science madness thread. At the time I wasn't really able to get hole of any sulphric acid so I used white vinegar instead. It's doesn't react with the nickle or boron much but the boron does tend to make it froth up a bit. I tried to separate the iron and Neodymium by dropping in ammonium hydroxide which seemed to work, leaving a pretty pink solution. However that might have been an ammonium complex with the iron or neodymium. Also from memory, neodymium salts are sensitive to light. It's been over 10 years since I tried the experiment. I still have some jars of it in my shed, lol.

  • @M00NSIDIAN
    @M00NSIDIAN Před 6 měsíci +22

    Neodymium can also make glass look really cool, similar to what you saw in the liquid in the beaker starting around 17:55.
    It's also got some REALLY unusual magnetic properties, but I'm not smart enough to understand that.

  • @ElSuperNova23
    @ElSuperNova23 Před 6 měsíci +4

    I swear you had a ball mill/rock tumbler at some point - just to get not-magnet powder first

  • @DustinLeonard-vg4om
    @DustinLeonard-vg4om Před 6 měsíci

    I look forward to this all the time. Had a rough day and found this gem

  • @thomaswest5137
    @thomaswest5137 Před 3 měsíci

    As someone who has worked in computing since the 90s I can confirm that “gravity therapy” of computing hardware is incredibly satisfying…

  • @montikore
    @montikore Před 6 měsíci +16

    I found this channel like 4 years ago and Tom is directly responsible for my new interest in chemistry. I'm not doing dick with it but I'm really interested lol

  • @laurahaaima1436
    @laurahaaima1436 Před 6 měsíci +4

    They completely decompose in water after the protective layer is being exposed.. I was surprised to see how easy they fall apart in a day or 5

  • @alzeheimersgaming
    @alzeheimersgaming Před 6 měsíci +1

    That hammer footage is art, well done mate

  • @PotooBurd
    @PotooBurd Před 26 dny

    I enjoy this so much! Amazing content, best wishes to you and your future projects! 🌻

  • @Grak70
    @Grak70 Před 6 měsíci +5

    As Tom gets older he’s starting to look like every 40-something Anglo Australian I’ve ever seen. It’s oddly reassuring.

    • @orbitalvagabond
      @orbitalvagabond Před 5 měsíci

      What, that the yellow chemistry and whatever worse hasn't mutated his body?

  • @sketchyAnalogies
    @sketchyAnalogies Před 6 měsíci +4

    3:45 absolutely huge neurodivergent energy here and I love it. Takes a year to realize that the logical approach may not be, and the destructive approach is reasonable.

  • @Arbiter22J
    @Arbiter22J Před 6 měsíci

    I have no background in chemistry but ive watched and re-watched your videos as they're so interesting. The best Educainment out there

  • @joshuasutherland6692
    @joshuasutherland6692 Před 6 měsíci +1

    The bird nesting among saws and cleavers is quite an image.