05 May 2006

Common Sources for Various Chemicals

Aaron Muderick

As the years have gone by, it has become more difficult to purchase many common chemicals.  Paperwork, restrictions, and exorbitant hazmat shipping fees are often required when ordering from traditional chemical supply houses. Therefore, for some time I have been assembling a list of more accessible sources for various chemicals: hardware store, corner grocery, pool supply, fine art store, photography shop, etc.

I hope that this list might be of help to the amateur scientist community. I would expect the list to be very useful when trying to replicate older experiments where the required chemicals were available at the local hardware store of a prior era. The list might also be very helpful to students working on science fair projects and looking to source common chemicals without credit cards, shipping delays, and mail order hassles.

If the chemical you require is not on this list, it can often be manufactured in a home lab, in small quantities, using chemicals which are easier to find or which are less expensive than purchasing a commercial finished product.  For example, the reaction of metallic zinc and acetic acid produces zinc acetate.  The reaction of metallic zinc with hydrochloric acid produces a solution of zinc chloride.

Safety Precautions

It is essential that you abide by any safety warnings and procedures that apply to all chemicals, whether commercial or otherwise. If you are uncertain about proper safety warnings and procedures for a particular chemical, do not make any use of the chemical until you become fully aware of any such warnings and procedures. You can do this by contacting the manufacturer and/or by doing a web search on the name of the chemical and the word 'MSDS' (Material Safety Data Sheet). Neither I nor the Society for Amateur Scientists may be held liable for any consequences of using this information.

Updating the List

I'm sure there are useful chemicals I've missed.  I welcome the input of members of the Society for Amateur Scientists, and the internet community in general, to help improve and expand this list and keep it current.

Editor's Note: Aaron Muderick's list of common sources for chemicals is an invaluable resource for amateur scientists. Please send your comments about the list and suggested additions to Aaron here.

Chemical Name Chemical Formula Common or Alternate Name Source and Description
       
acetic acid CH3COOH Vinegar Grocery stores carry white vinegar which varies between 4-5.5% acetic acid; more concentrated acetic acid (28%) may be purchased at photography supply stores.  Photography stores also carry 'Indicator Stop Bath' which is 89% acetic acid and a trace amount of Bromocresol Purple dye.
acetone CH3COCH3 Acetone Nail polish remover is often acetone and fragrance. Fiberglass cleaner is also generally made of acetone and is available at boating supply stores.  Acetone is also available by name at most hardware stores
acetylene gas C2H2   Can be obtained in cylinders from welding supply houses or by the reaction of calcium carbide and water.
acetylsalicylic acid C9H8O4 Aspirin Grocery or drug store,  May contain binders and fillers which dilute purity.
aluminum Al Aluminum Aluminum foil from the grocery store.  Aluminum turnings are available as scrap from machine shops.  Powdered aluminum may be available as a metallic pigment from fine art supply houses.  Note that this form is often coated with a wax to reduce flammability.
aluminum ammonium sulfate AlNH4(SO4)2 Ammonium Alum Available from drug and grocery stores as some styptic pencils for shaving needs.  Also available from fine art supply stores as a mordant for dying and painting.  Found in some organic, health, or bulk foods markets.
aluminum sulfate Al2(SO4)2 Flocculating Powder Found in Pool supply stores. It is the active ingredient in some antiperspirants (not deodorants).
ammonia NH3(aq); NH4OH Ammonia Household ammonia (ammonium hydroxide) is an aqueous solution of ammonia and is available in grocery stores. Anhydrous ammonia is available in cylinders from welding supply houses.
ammonium bifluoride (NH4)F2   Available from hardware stores as a toilet bowl cleaner and rust stain remover.  Also from some automotive supply stores as a car body cleaner.
ammonium carbonate (NH4)2CO3 Smelling Salts Grocery or drug store in the first aid section.
ammonium chloride (NH4)Cl Soldering Flux Salt of Ammon in plumbing section or Sal Ammoniac in a general hardware store.   It is used to clean the tips of soldering irons and as a solder flux.
ammonium nitrate NH4NO3 Ammonium Nitrate Also called 'Nitrate of Ammonia', this fertilizer is available at most garden supply and agricultural supply stores.
ammonium persulfate (NH4)2S2O8 Etching Solution Used as an alternative to ferric chloride for etching circuit boards.  Available at Radio Shack and other electronics supply stores.
ammonium phosphate (NH4)3PO4 Fertilizer Available from garden supply and agricultural supply stores.
ammonium sulfate (NH4)2SO4 Mohrs Salt Available from garden supply and agricultural supply stores as a fertilizer and also as a pH adjuster for soil.
amylose (C6H9O5)n Corn Starch Corn starch is available at most markets and is used extensively in cooking.
anthocyanin     Anthocyanin solution can be prepared by cutting, boiling and then filtering red cabbage.
argon gas Ar   Available in cylinders from welding supply houses.
ascorbic acid C6H8O6 Vitamin C Vitamin C tablets sold at the market are primarily ascorbic acid.
barium sulfate BaSO4 Lithopone Available from fine art supply houses in a compound with zinc oxide.  This compound is known as 'Lithipone' pigment.
boric acid H3BO3 Ant/Roach Killer Grocery or hardware store in the pest control section.
bromthymol blue C27H28Br2O5S pH Test Aquarium pH test kits often employ bromthymol blue because it changes color in the 6.0-7.6 range.
butane C4H10 Butane The lighter fluid in hand-held fire starters or cigarette lighters is usually liquid butane.
caffeine C8H10N4O2 No-Doz Grocery or drug store. Often in formulation with corn starch as a binder.
cadmium sulfide CdS Cadmium Yellow Fine art supply house.  Available as a yellow powder.  Sometimes pure, sometimes blended with zinc sulfide to create alternate hues.
calcium carbide CaC2   Still used by cavers and spelunkers to generate acetylene gas for miner's lamps.  May be found through a local caver organization (grotto) or at some non-chain camping/outdoor supply stores.
calcium carbonate CaCO3 Limestone Chalk, limestone and marble chips are good sources of solid calcium carbonate; some antacids are largely calcium carbonate.  Available as a fine powder used as an extender in paint making from fine art supply stores.  Often called 'Marble Dust' or 'Precipitated Chalk'.
calcium chloride CaCl2 Road Salt/De-Icer Much of the road salt (de-icer) used to de-ice roads in cold climates is calcium chloride.
calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 Slaked Lime It is used in lime-softening water treatment and in plastering.  Can be easily made from lime or quicklime by adding water to create slaked lime.  It can also be made by dissolving calcium chloride with sodium hydroxide in water.
calcium hypochlorite Ca(ClO)2   Bleaching powder and some swimming pool disinfectants contain calcium hypochlorite. Available from cleaning or swimming pool supply companies.  Keep in mind that some formulations contain cyanuric acid as a stabilizer against UV light.
calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2.4H2O Norwegian saltpeter Available from garden supply and agricultural supply stores as a fertilizer.
calcium oxide CaO Quicklime Used to make plaster. It is now difficult to obtain from hardware stores. Can be obtained as the solid waste from mixing Calcium Carbide and Water.
calcium phosphate, monobasic Ca(H2PO4)2 Superphosphate Available as a fertilizer from garden supply stores.  Also sometimes available as a nutritional supplement at health food stores.
calcium sulfate, anhydrous CaSO4   Can be made from commonly available plaster of paris by additional heating to above 180C.  Also available at fine art supply stores as Terra Alba.
calcium sulfate, hemihydrate CaSO4 . 1/2H20 Plaster of Paris Easily available in hardware stores, arts and craft stores, and hobby shops.
calcium sulfate, dihydrate CaSO4 . 2H20 Gypsum Can be made from the reaction of Plaster of Paris with Water.
camphor C10H16O   Can be found as a flavor additive at some Chinese grocery stores.  Sometimes found in the drugstore as a cream or oral remedy.  It feels cool like menthol on the skin.
carbon C Soot Charcoal briquettes used in cooking are available at the grocery store but contain a variety of additives.  Activated charcoal used in fish tank filters and graphite used in pencil leads are good sources of carbon. Lamp Black artists pigment is pure carbon in a fine powder and is available from fine art supply stores.  Coal is also a good source for almost pure carbon.
carbon dioxide CO2   Dry ice is available from party stores, supermarkets, refrigeration supply companies and ice cream companies.  Nationally distributed by Airgas through 'Penguin Brand Dry Ice'.  Gaseous form available in small canisters at sporting goods stores.  Used in air guns and in paintball.
carbonic acid H2CO3   Soda water is simply carbonated water, a dilute solution of carbonic acid.  A 'Soda Club' home soda maker is a good way to make your own carbonic acid in varying strengths.
carrageenan     Available in some health food stores as a food additive.  Used in many commercial food preparations as a thickener and gelling agent.  Available at fine art supply stores for use in molding.
chromium oxide CrO3 Chromium Green Used as a green pigment for fine art paints.  It is available as a powder from most fine art supply stores.
citric acid C6H8O7 Sour Salt Available at the grocery store as 'Sour Salt'.  Also used for home soap making and also in photographic development.
copper Cu   Electrical wire, copper pipe, and copper sheeting are available at hardware stores and are almost 100% pure copper.  American pennies (minted 1944-1946, 1962-1982) are 95% copper and 5% zinc.  Pennies minted after 1982 are only copper clad.
copper sulfate CuSO4 Blue vitriol Can be made from the more commonly available copper sulfate pentahydrate by heating to 150C.
copper sulfate pentahydrate CuSO45H2O   Fairly easy to obtain.  It is the active ingredient in many algaecides used to kill algae and other aquatic pests.  Available for pest control at many gardening and agricultural supply stores as a root killer.
dextrose C6H12O6 glucose Dextrose (glucose) is available in many grocery and drug stores. Some throat lozenges are pure dextrose.
ethanol/ethyl alcohol C2H5OH Everclear Available as 95% pure ethanol and 5% water from liquor stores in most states.
ethylene glycol CH2OHCH2OH Antifreeze Some engine antifreezes are primarily ethylene glycol and can be obtained at an automotive supply store.
fructose C6H12O6 Fruit Sugar Easily available from most grocery stores.
glucose C6H12O6 Dextrose Dextrose (glucose) is available in many grocery and drug stores. Some throat lozenges are pure dextrose.
glycerin C3H8O3 Glycerol Glycerin is an emollient used to soften skin by delaying the evaporation of water. It is available at most drug stores.
glycerol C3H8O3 Glycerin Glycerol is an emollient used to soften skin by delaying the evaporation of water. It is available at most drug stores.
gold Au   Gold jewelry is generally not pure gold. Gold is generally alloyed with other metals to increase strength.  Gold coins are often .999 fine gold and many may be obtained at 'bullion value' from local coin shops.  Pure gold dust and gold foils are available from fine art supply stores.
helium He Helium can be obtained from party stores or wherever helium balloons are available.  Small disposable containers are available for long-term storage.
hexamine C6H12N4 Hexamethylenetetramine Sold as solid fuel tablets in camping and outdoor stores.
hydrogen gas H2 Hydrogen Can be generated and captured from electrolysis of water and a wide variety of inorganic chemical reactions.  Highly flammable and explosive under pressure or in quantity.
hydrochloric acid HCl Masonry Cleaner Muriatic acid (the common name for HCl) is used in swimming pool maintenance. It is also sold as masonry cleaner and is available at the hardware store. Percentages vary but concentrations as high as 35% can be found easily.
hydrofluoric acid HF Glass Etching Solution Available at some hardware stores and at most fine art supply houses for etching glass.  Available in some grocery stores under various brand names as a rust remover.
hypochlorous acid HClO Laundry Bleach Grocery store.
hydroquinone C6H6O2   Photography store catering to the at-home darkroom crowd.
hydrogen peroxide H2O2 Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide antiseptic (3%) is available from the drug store. Clairoxide hair bleach by Clairol is much more concentrated (12%) and is available from beauty supply stores.  Concentrations as high as 35% may be available at health food stores and natural medicine stores as a source of 'natural oxygen'.
iodine I2 Iodide Tincture of iodine, a topical antiseptic used for treating wounds, is a solution of iodine dissolved in ethyl alcohol. It is available at most drug stores.
iron Fe   Steel wool, iron nails, iron bolts, nuts, screws are good sources of iron. You can get iron filings by dragging a strong magnet through sand or iron-fortified breakfast cereals.
ferric chloride FeCl3 Etching Solution Available in solution from Radio Shack and other electronics suppliers as an etching solution for circuit boards.  Also available in solution from fine art supply stores.
ferric oxide (Iron III Oxide) Fe2O3 Rust Common rust.  Reddish in color.  Can be scraped off of rusted iron objects or purchased in a purified form as the artists pigment 'Red Iron Oxide' from fine art supply stores.  

ferrous ferric oxide
(Iron II III Oxide)

 Fe3O4 Magnetite Used as the artists pigment 'Mars Black' and can be purchased from fine art supply stores.
gum arabic     Available at arts & crafts stores and at fine art supply stores as a binder for turning pigments into paints.
kerosene CnH2n+1 (n=12-16) Aviation Fuel Lamp oil or kerosene is sold in the paint departments of most hardware stores.  Also available in larger quantities from gas stations in many parts of the country.
lactic acid C3H6O3 Milk Acid Available from grocery stores and health food stores.
latex C5H8 Liquid Latex Body Paint Available from adult toy stores as a novelty item and from select hobby shops.  Compositions vary in the amount of ammonia and fillers they contain.
linseed oil     Used as a binder in paints and as a finish for wood.  Available at hardware stores and fine art supply stores.
lead Pb   Lead shot and lead sinkers are used by fishermen and are available at sporting goods stores.
magnesium Mg Fire starter Sold in solid blocks as a fire starter in many camping and outdoor stores.
magnesium carbonate MgCO3 Athlete's chalk Often sold as a powder in sporting goods stores for gymnastics, weightlifting, and climbing to help keep hands dry.  Sometimes it is combined with calcium carbonate in this use.
magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH)2 Milk of Magnesia Milk of Magnesia is an antacid used to settle sour (acidic) stomachs. Some antacid tablets also contain magnesium hydroxide.
magnesium silicate Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 Talc Talcum powder comes from talc, the softest of all minerals, and is used as a dusting powder for babies. It is available in the body care section of the drug store.
magnesium sulfate MgSO47H2O Epsom Salt Epsom salt is sold at most drug stores and is used as a laxative or as an anti-inflammatory soak.  Also available as a chemical for photographic development.
manganese dioxide MnO2   Available as the black powder in unused alkaline batteries
mercury Hg quicksilver Becoming difficult to find due to fears of toxicity and environmental contamination.  Old mercury switches can be found in many thermostats.  Old-style thermometers contain mercury.  Fluorescent light tubes contain a small amount of mercury though it can be difficult to extract.
methane CH4 Natural Gas Gas line in many homes.
methanol CH3OH Methyl Alcohol Methanol is sold as a solvent in paint supply stores under the names "wood alcohol" or "methyl alcohol."  Available from automotive supply as a gasoline line anti-freeze.
methylene blue C16H18ClN3S Methidote Methylene blue (Methidote antiseptic) is used to treat small injured fish and is available at pet stores.
methyl salicylate C6H4(OH)COOCH3 Oil of Wintergreen Drug Store
mineral oil complex mixture of hydrocarbons   Mineral oil is sold in drug stores as an emollient. Some baby oils are essentially mineral oil and fragrance.
naphthalene C10H8 moth balls Hardware store or grocery store.
nickel Ni   Pre-1985 Canadian nickels are made of nickel. Note: American "nickels" are composed of 25% nickel and 75% copper.
nitrogen N2 liquid nitrogen Hospital, laboratory, university, welding supply house, and industrial gas supplier can all provide liquid or gaseous nitrogen.
nitrous oxide N2O whipping gas Whipped cream canisters from the grocery store. Or in larger canisters from commercial restaurant supply houses.  When packaged for automotive use it is usually contaminated with hydrogen sulfide to discourage inhalation.
oxalic acid C2H2O4 rust remover Radiator cleaner from drug or hardware store.  Also available in the hardware store as 'wood bleach powder'.
oxygen O2   Portable welding oxygen tanks are available at welding shops and some hardware stores.  Can be generated in small quantities from the electrolysis of water.
para-dichlorobenzene C6H4Cl2 moth flakes Hardware or grocery store.
paraffin CnH2n+2 (n>19)   Unless otherwise labeled, candle wax is made of paraffin. Some grocery stores sell paraffin as a sealant for home canning.  Many arts and crafts stores sell paraffin for at-home candle makers.
phenolphthalein C20H14O4   Magic shops might carry it as a pinkish disappearing ink.  Blue disappearing ink is not phenolphthalein.  Difficult to find outside of chemical supply.
phenol red C19 H19SO5 phenolsulfonephthalein Used as a pH tester for swimming pools.  Available at swimming pool supply stores.
phosphoric acid H3PO4 pH Down Some pH reducers (available at pet stores) used in fish tanks are simply dilute solutions (up to 30%) of phosphoric acid.  Also available in gel form at hardware stores as a rust remover.  Also used as a solder flux.
polystyrene casting resin   Hobby shop
polyurethane foam   Mountains in Minutes Hobby shop, hardware, or  building supply store.
potassium aluminum sulfate KAl(SO4)212H2O Alum It is used as an astringent to shrink mucus membranes.  Some styptic pencils use it in their formulation. Often sold as a deodorant stone at natural health stores.  Also available as a mordant for clothing dyes (RIT brand and others).
potassium bitartrate KHC4H4O6 Cream of Tartar Cream of Tartar is available at the grocery store and is used to stabilize delicate foods like meringue toppings and other baked egg-white products.
potassium carbonate K2CO3 Potash Available at some garden supply and agricultural stores.
potassium bromide KBr   Photography store catering to the at-home darkroom crowd.
potassium chloride KCl Salt Substitute Available as a salt substitute by people who must limit their sodium intake, and is available at most supermarkets.  Also available in larger quantities as a road salt de-icer.
potassium chrome alum KCr(SO4)2*12H20   Photography store catering to the at-home darkroom crowd.
potassium dichromate K2Cr2O7   Photography store catering to the at-home darkroom crowd.
potassium iron (ii) hexacyanoferrate(iii) KFe[Fe(CN)6]   Mrs. Stewart's liquid laundry bluing is used to whiten clothes and may be found in the detergents section of the supermarket.
potassium hydroxide KOH Caustic Potash Available at some ceramic supply houses and from arts and crafts stores for soap making.  Difficult to find.  May be the active ingredient in some drain cleaning solutions.  Kodak SII Activator is 10% Potassium Hydroxide with various sulfites and bromides in the mixture.  Veterinary supply houses may carry it for dissolving hair and horns in animals.
potassium iodide KI Radiation Pills Available sometimes as a photographic development chemical.  Also from outdoor/survivalist stores in pill form to avoid the uptake of radioactive iodine during a nuclear accident.
potassium nitrate KNO3 Saltpeter Saltpeter or quick salt is used to cure home made sausages and corned beef and may be available at independent butcher shops.
potassium permanganate KMnO4 Clearwater Clearwater is a solution of approximately 50% potassium permanganate and is used to remove odors and cloudiness from water to be used in aquariums.
propane C3H8   Gas barbecue fuel is generally made of propane and is available at many gasoline stations or picnic supply stores.
2-propanol CH3CHOHCH3 Rubbing Alcohol Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) is a concentrated solution of 2-propanol and may be found in most drug stores.  Supermarkets owned by Safeway carry a 99% pure version.
silicon dioxide SiO2 Sand Quartz sand is relatively pure silicon dioxide and is available at many building supply stores and also aquarium shops.
silver Ag   Older non-clad American dimes, quarters, half dollars and silver dollars are 90% silver and 10% copper.
sodium acetate NaC2H3O2 Hand Warmer Main ingredient in hand-warmers that are available at sporting goods stores.  Can also be made through the reaction of baking soda and vinegar.
sodium borate Na2B4O710H2O Borax Grocery store.
sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 Baking Soda Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate and may be found in the baking section of the grocery store.
sodium biphosphate Na2HPO4 pH Down Found at pet stores and used to lower the pH of aquarium water.
sodium bisulphate NaHSO4 pH Down Pool supply store
sodium bromide NaBr Hot Tub Salt Pool supply store
sodium carbonate Na2CO3 Washing Soda Washing soda is used to treat wool fibers and is available at spinning, weaving, and art supply stores.  It is also available in most grocery stores and supermarkets under the Arm & Hammer brand.
sodium chloride NaCl Salt The table salt used in cooking is sodium chloride. Iodized salt contains traces of sodium iodide.  Uniodized salt is available and is often explicitly labeled as such.
sodium hydroxide NaOH Lye/Caustic Soda Known also as caustic soda and lye, sodium hydroxide is used in many commercial drain cleaners/openers.  Available in markets, grocery stores, and hardware stores.
sodium hypochlorite NaClO Bleach Household bleach is generally a 5% solution of sodium hypochlorite.
sodium nitrate NaNO3 Chile saltpeter Garden supply store
sodium phosphate Na3PO4 Tri Sodium Phosphate Tri-sodium phosphate, commonly known as TSP, is available at hardware stores and is used to clean walls prior to painting.
sodium silicate Na2SiO3, Na2Si3O7 water glass, egg preserver, magic rocks Can be found at some hardware stores and drug stores.
sodium sulfite Na2SO3   Photography store catering to the at-home darkroom crowd.
sodium sulfate Na2SO4   Photography store catering to the at-home darkroom crowd.
sodium tetraborate decahydrate Na2B4O710H2O Borax Borax, such as Twenty Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster is sodium tetraborate decahydrate.
sodium thiosulfate Na2S2O3 Hypo Photographer's hypo is used in photograph development and is available at photography supply stores.  Also available from pet shops as a de-chlorination additive to fish water.
stearic acid C17H35CO2H candle hardener Some arts and crafts stores will carry this item.  It is used by do-it-yourself candle makers.
sucrose C12H22O11 Sugar Table sugar is available at grocery stores in large or small bags and in a variety of particle sizes.
sulfur S   Flowers of sulfur is sold at some garden stores to treat certain plant diseases.  Also available at many drug stores.
sulfuric acid H2SO4 oil of vitriol Battery acid.  May be obtained at some auto supply stores.  Dilute or buffered solutions are available from hardware stores and plumbing supply houses to help unclog drains.
tannic acid C76H52O46 tannin Arts and crafts store in the dyes and fabric section.  Some photography stores and drug stores may carry it.
tartaric acid C4H6O6 wine preservative Sold in wine-making supply stores and sometimes in the grocery store.
thymolphthalein C28H30O4 disappearing ink It is the blue disappearing ink available at magic supply stores.
titanium dioxide TiO2   Available as a fine powder for use as a pure white pigment from fine art supply stores.
1,1,1 trichloroethane CCl3CH3 cleaning fluid, degreaser hardware store
tungsten W   The filament in incandescent light bulbs is made of tungsten.
turpentine     Available at hardware stores and fine art supply stores.
urea H2NCONH2 ice melter, fertilizer Available at some hardware stores and at garden supply stores.
xylene C8H10 xylene Available at hardware stores, paint stores, and fine art supply stores.
zinc Zn zinc Recent American pennies (1982-present) are 97.5% zinc with a 2.5% copper coating. Galvanized coating on steel.  Inside of carbon-zinc batteries.  Found in some hardware stores as 'moss remover'.
zinc oxide ZnO zinc oxide Found in opaque sunscreens for its UV opacity.  'Chinese White' fine arts pigment is very pure.

 

 

   
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