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Gym Chalk explosive?

May 30th, 2011 | Gymnastics

Grace Chiu on Facebook:

Some chalk (magnesium carbonate) at the gym got on the top of my photo booth kit bag and set off CSTA alarms for traces of explosive chemicals at YYG. Forms got filled out and everything got hand checked, including my body. I’ll be happy to get home soon to do some laundry.

Leave a comment if you’ve ever heard of gymnastics chalk being flagged at an airport. That stuff is about as inert as any substance.

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7 comments ↓

#1 Quentin on 05.30.11 at 11:12 am

It was most likely the magnesium part that set off the explosive alarm. Magnesium is used in making thermite.

#2 Reese on 05.30.11 at 11:25 am

Yeah, but did she remember to get a photo of tandoori chicken with the airport security agents?

#3 MissEducated on 05.30.11 at 1:57 pm

There was a Mythbusters episode about fine powders and explosions. According to a Mythbusters forum discussing this “A variety of flammable materials can cause this. When reduced to sufficient particle size, mixed in the atmosphere in the correct proportions, and exposed to a suitable ignition source, they can ignite with explosive force.”

They found that non-dairy creamer was the most explosive of the powders they tested!

#4 Polytroll on 05.30.11 at 4:04 pm

MgCO3 is already fully oxidized. Post one makes sense…

#5 ak on 05.31.11 at 12:07 am

NON-Dairy creamer makes a huge explosion when you had fire to it !!! we use to do it in high school all the time. Makes a big fireball !!!

#6 Tim on 05.31.11 at 5:22 am

We usually bring a bag with us to comps, I’m usually more worried that it might be mistaken for cocaine!

#7 T. Chicken on 06.02.11 at 2:51 pm

Photography is not permitted in CSTA areas. Besides, been there/done that in India. Let me tell you …
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5156114&l=c8be496c5a&id=833457383

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