[tony6789 (OP)]

Ok pplz can ya help me? We just moved into a new house. It is over 75 years old. When i was in my attic i found this substance. it is in a brown,see-through bottle. the bottle is about finger to thumb length apart. it has a white cap. it smells something like nail-polish but the scent is WAY too strong. it is a thick liquid. it cames out of the bottle slowly. it is very clear. i put some on paper and it just soaked through like water. then i put some on my hand and got a surprise! it made a very hard, waxy layer on it and it wouldn't come off till i put more on then wipeed it off. i asked my dad what it is and he was at a total loss. then iasked my science teacher what i was. she ran some tests and told me she didn't have a clue what it was. but she stongly advised me not to drink it. Now at a losss of who 2 ask i come to my buddies at the naked scientists for an  answer: what is this wierd substance?

NEVER! underestimate youth

[DoctorBeaver]

It's possibly 1 of those "cure-alls" travelling salesmen used to con people into buying. Have you tried setting fire to it?  []

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[upton]

Not too sure if you were right to place some on your hand.
I am afraid I do not know what it is and wonder if DoctorBeaver is correct. Have you tried a litmus paper test ?

~~~I can't think of a signature~~~

[JimBob]

From your description is may be a glycerin mixture of some sort. I emphasize MIXTURE.



The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein

[rosy]

Hmm. My approach to a totally unidentifiable liquid in a bottle would be to call the local council (or equivalent) waste disposal people and ask them what they want you to do with it. Or failing that to try to find a local university chemistry department and try to get them to stick it in with the chemical waste.
But that might just be because as my family's tame chemist I know some day I'm going to have to deal with the bottles of stuff left in my grandad's cellar when he died in 2001... which preys on my mind a bit (I know what some of those are).

[ukmicky]

Is it flammable ,is it water soliable

could it be one of the following

acetone
Toluene
octanol
ethylene glycol
tert-butylacetic acid,
butyric acid
And their are probably many others which google didnt find[]

Michael

[DoctorBeaver]

Micky - does acetone turn thick? I've only ever seen it as free-flowing.

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[ROBERT]

If Tony's description is accurate then it sounds organic, like UKMicky's suggestions.
 Ethlyene glycol fits the bill, it is used in photographic chemistry,
 (the substance was found in an attic = darkroom ?), e.g.:-

" GPQ Liquid Concentrate Film Developer:
STOCK SOLUTION  
Distilled Water (55°C)  600 ml
Sodium Sulfite  50 g  
Sodium Carbonate  26 g  
Diethylene Glycol  100 ml
Hydroquinone  20 g  
Phenidone  2 g  
Glycin  30 g  
Distilled water to make  1000 ml "

http://www.jackspcs.com/chemdesc.htm .

[MayoFlyFarmer]

i'm putting my money on Diethylene Glycol.  It fits teh description of the perp, and it has a motive to be at the scene of the crime.  however, i would find an organic chemistry prof. or grad student at a nearby university and ask them for help.  be very polite and respectful, tell them you are curious as to what it is and want to learn how to go about finding out.

Are YOUR mice nude? []

[tony6789 (OP)]

ok it is flameable. but that still doesn't count for the waxy layer. and what is the litmus paper test?

NEVER! underestimate youth

[ukmicky]

Could be a cough or cold medicine as chemists use to make up prescriptions in bottles like that many years ago. but it could be anything so be very careful where you leave it, and stop putting it on your skin.

Michael

[ukmicky]

Could be a cough or cold medicine as chemists use to make up prescriptions in bottles like that many years ago. but it could be anything so be very careful where you leave it, and stop putting it on your skin.

Michael

[tony6789 (OP)]

i don't know. let me drink it...

NEVER! underestimate youth

[neilep]

Well, if we never hear from Tony again at least we can conclude that the contents of the bottle were not an aid to digestion !!

Tony....you are NOT gonna drink that stuff are you ?...DON'T !!!

(I think you're not and just playing with us)

Men are the same as women, just inside out !

[Hadrian]

Wart remedy?

What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

[science_guy]

was there any lable or markings of any kind on the bottle?

by the way, NEVER drink anything unless you know what it is, you never know how poisonous, acidic, or destructive it could be in the human body (people should stop drinking soda, its anti calcium!).


E=MC2... m=deg/360 X C... C= PiD

therefore E=deg/360 X 2(PiD)

[JimBob]

PERHAPS...

Laying down to sleep last night I recalled from some cue. my younger days in amature theater. Is this concotion perhaps the spirit gum used to put on fake beards, etc.?



The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein

[science_guy]

that may explain the hard waxy layer that went on his skin, good for adhesive


E=MC2... m=deg/360 X C... C= PiD

therefore E=deg/360 X 2(PiD)

[tony6789 (OP)]

ok i tasted it and waz sick 4 a while i evcen had 2 miss the last day of school! that is y i haven't been on 4 a while. it seems it is no cough medicine. the effects of it were vomiting, headaches,upset stomach,and fever. hmm what is this stuff?!

NEVER! underestimate youth

[neilep]

quote:Originally posted by tony6789

ok i tasted it and waz sick 4 a while i evcen had 2 miss the last day of school! that is y i haven't been on 4 a while. it seems it is no cough medicine. the effects of it were vomiting, headaches,upset stomach,and fever. hmm what is this stuff?!

NEVER! underestimate youth

Tony !!!!!!!......glad you're better.

Look, if you really want to know what it is, why don't you take it down the chemist/pharmacist and see what they say....DON'T tell them you consumed some !!!!...well, you can of course but I suspect they'll tell you off !!

Men are the same as women, just inside out !