Not All Chemists Make Meth or Bombs
Thursday November 13, 2008
Chemistry doesn't get Slashdotted a whole lot, but this week there was a blurb about how government regulations make it tough to do chemistry as a hobby, or at least as a hobby out of your home. The Slashdot post was in response to the November 10 article in C&E News, mainly about Victor Deeb, the polymer chemist who had his home lab raided and his notes confiscated earlier this year. The problem doesn't seem to be federal regulations so much as state and local laws. It's very hard for any hobbyist, in any field, to know what you are and aren't allowed to do from your home. It's worse for chemists because they use... well... chemicals. Will they react with each other? Um, yeah... that's kinda the point. The regulations regarding chemical storage and waste disposal usually are more clear, though they often pose problems for the hobbyist. Some of the regulations are in place as a matter of chemical hygiene. Many of the more-restrictive rules regarding the possession of chemicals are intended to deter terrorists and drugmakers. Do you think the government regulations are so stringent that chemists can't practice chemistry at home? If you do chemistry at home, either as part of your job or as a hobby, have you encountered any problems getting chemicals or practicing your science?
Personally, I find it frustrating that the availability of many safe chemicals is restricted simply because they could be used to make an explosive or a drug. I recall hearing what I hope was an urban legend a few years back about how there was proposed legislation to limit the availability of baking soda since it could be used to make illicit substances. But then, I think it's stupid that ethanol is hard to find. I also chafe at the challenges the hobbyist chemist faces in acquiring glassware. I know it's hard to believe, but you can use it for something other than making meth.
What are your thoughts and experiences?
Personally, I find it frustrating that the availability of many safe chemicals is restricted simply because they could be used to make an explosive or a drug. I recall hearing what I hope was an urban legend a few years back about how there was proposed legislation to limit the availability of baking soda since it could be used to make illicit substances. But then, I think it's stupid that ethanol is hard to find. I also chafe at the challenges the hobbyist chemist faces in acquiring glassware. I know it's hard to believe, but you can use it for something other than making meth.
What are your thoughts and experiences?
Comments
I used to work in a lab and one of the problems we had was that some of the employees of the company would steal glassware – to make illicit substances at home. A few bad apples made life miserable for the rest of us – it’s hard to do tests without the proper glassware!
I still don’t think it is right for regulations to make it impossible for chemistry hobbyists to do experiements at home though!
I can understand the need for restrictions, but to restrict all the way to sodium bicarbonate is ridiculous. What would be next: salt? peroxide? rubbing alcohol? Come on!
A friends dad has a fuel cell hobby. He has gotten a few patents out of the part-time practice. Send him to jail for HCl and aluminum foil!
I sometimes don’t tell people that I am a chemist for this very reason. I feel embarrassed sometimes. It’s unfortunate.
I don’t practice much but, yes, It can be hard to find supplies at times. I am more or less left with stuff I can buy at the drug store.
The American restrictions on home chemistry came out of functionally illiterate Rednecks being elected to public office. Witness that in Texas you now need a license to possess most types of chemistry glassware. In fact drug cooks don’t even NEED official pyrex apparatus..they can use many receptacles from Kitchen stores.
Canada is a bit easier, but somewhat peculiar. Hardware stores sell several organic solvents by the gallon…but I can’t order them from a Lab Supply as I am not a “registered School or Business”. Actually I am retired, 63 years old, with a degree in Industrial control systems. It’s taken me 3 years of my spare time to refine Industrial chemicals into the high 90% purity that allows my chemistry hobby to balance the reaction equations correctly.