Hi Robert,

and Mark,
Does anyone remember painting nitrogen tri-iodide (made by mixing potassium iodide and ammonia) into locker key-holes. Quite shock sensitive when it dries and as the key went into the lock .. bang and a puff of purple smoke.
That is one of the explosives I used. It was made from iodine and Amonium hydroxide.
I also at the age of 12yrs made gunpowder.

I found the formula in a year 5 history book.

I used to frequent the local dumps. I found opals and various gems. Disused containers with some of the contents still in. Sulphuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. Lots of fun stuff for a 12 yr old.
Fortunately we had a uni student living with us. Pharmacy student, he taught me some interesting things and also how to handle these dangerous chemicals.
I blew a big chunk out the side of a local bridge pillar. The pillar was bluestone rock cemented together. Loose rocks were seated in old crumbling mortar.

They renovated and widened the bridge after that.
Does that make me a terrorist?
I did learn a lot in those days. I have showed my kids the dangers of using petrol on a fire.
This may be a safety lesson for Mark. I place 200ml of petrol on an open wood BBQ. From as far as I can I throw lighted matches at the BBQ.
When one match ignites the petrol,
KaVFOOM. The first time my kids saw it they stepped back real quick. They appreciated why one does not throw such volatile substances onto a fire.
Another for Mark. Alcohol, it burns with a flame that is not very visible. Highly volatile. A demo for the kids? Not a toy, methylated spirits. Sometimes a real danger on race tracks and drag strips, alcohol fires have caused bad injuries to people because it was not easily seen.
Cheers Marty