2ci powder mystery

[bobknocker]

Why does 2ci powder when slowly pushed with a credit card spontaneously form geometric shapes.

Ie: some of the powder under the edge of the card forms into a cube and collapses as the card pushes forward.

Saw this some years back and have been wondering about it lately as I study for exams.

 

[sekio]

static charge probably

 

[nAON]

Is this before or after you sniff the 2ci?

 

[endotropic]

I have nightmares about static build-up and fine powders Just jump an inch off the spatula and coat everything nearby why-don-cha! Not like I can stop you!

And yea it can cause some pretty weird looking geometric patterns in the powder.

 

[bobknocker]

Spontaneous pseudo crystalization via static charge?

If I'm speculating correctly, a pure sample or one with a single impurity evenly dispersed should output a single shape with a relatively constant time interval as the card moves over the sample with constant speed.

The more impurities present the more varied the composition of the mixture in the area acquiring enough charge to pseudo crystalize leading to various shapes. All arm chair speculation but any insight or criticisms are welcome.

 

[sekio]

It's indeed static charge, but it's not "spontaneous pseudo crystallization". This effect actually still happens with pure substances, it's not mediated by impurities.

What is happening is, 2C-I hydrochloride crystals are becoming statically charged as they rub together against themselves or other materials. It's a process called "triboelectric charging". Because the crystals of 2C-I are not very conductive, the individual crystals hold the built-up charge and either attract or repel other particles to form little patterns. And because the individual crystals all have different shapes and collide with different things upon handling, they all have slightly different charges which makes the pattern unique.

This is also the same effect that makes 2C-I (and stuff like finely ground cannabis) 'cling' to surfaces. On a larger scale or in dark rooms I expect you could actually see 2C-I could spark under some conditions, as the charge is released from the crystals coming in contact.

You can actually buy magical static guns which shoot a little burst of charged ions to equalize the static charge on powders or the like. These help in handling very 'clingy' powders.

 

[Bagseed]

hm I always wondered why my 2C-E sticks to plastic badly, but not at all to paper... interesting