Meanwhile, from the other job
Jun. 25th, 2014 12:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Subject: Re: [ISOGEOCHEM] Is CaF2 safe in an EA
Thanks you all for the responses. I vaguely remember an old micro-chemical technique for mineral identification that uses powdered fluorite to produce HF, through some means, and remove silica so that the specimen can be further tested. I don’t remember the details of that technique but the idea of running CaF2 in my EA in the presence of organics did have me concerned. I’m relieved to learn that it can be done safely.
Thanks again.
-- Steve
... followed shortly afterwards by...
We used to do something like this in the lab! And we are still alive. Vogel spot test, maybe.
Fluoride + H2SO4 -> HF + .... over a burner to heat.
You do it in a test tube. Then you dip a wet glass rod into the vapours, and if it etches it, then there is fluoride.
Very cool. And QUITE safe ...
Hil