Favorite Tecnige

[mimas]

I think ragol's atmosphere's composition would be similar to that of Earth's (as you have agreed, or else things will burst into flames far too easily)

Since when did I agree that Ragol and Earth had a similar atmospheric content? I only said WE have to make do with 20% oxygen - for all we know Ragol's atmosphere could contain a hell of a lot more seeing as it isn't quite so heavily industrialised. On a side-note, it's mostly catalytic converters in cars that pump out tons of nitrogen, easily able to hike the nitrogen % up by about 0.5% or more. Last time I checked it was 78%.

they want to be in a more stable state, so you need to get the reactants which are in a less stable state to begin with

I may be discussing extremes here as far as unstable reactants are concerned, but if you manage to lay your hands on a small lump of potassium about as big as your thumbnail, drop it in water. It causes a displacement reaction and also generates enough thermal energy to ignite the hydrogen it is displacing. Add to that our atmosphere's oxygen and you get a load of very stable potassium oxide (K2O) plus a nice flame.

Now imagine what a bigger lump of potassium (or a similar-sized lump of a more reactive metal like caesium) would do...

Side note: There is an extremely reactive metal called francium (number 87 in the periodic table) which is, sadly, radioactive so it would probably kill you if you got too close. Gamma rays hurt... Anyway - try reacting it with fluorine. You'd get a bloody big explosion and an incredibly stable product.

I'm just glad you made a good attempt to explain the PSO techs; it's interesting that we actually care about those things.

All it proves is that I'm an insane science nerd. :ermm: