Are These 'Inert' Solvents Actually Reactive?

In this video, I discuss the Novec solvents as well as the flurane anesthetics, which tend to be hydrofluoroethers. This video is also the 50k subscriber special - thanks for your support!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Links to stuff discussed in this episode:

Further Reading:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ShermSpinner]

Bit of a related yikes on that one. I work R&D for a manufacturer of construction chemicals. Among other things we have a range of facade watrerproofing and impregnation products, the latter of which usually contain PFAS to achieve as much of a hydophobic surface as possible. One day a year or 2 ago, we recieved a sudden statement that after a few shipment delays the PFAS-concentrate was no longer available, effect immediately with no replacement offered. What happened? Turns out, the (unsurprisingly also 3M) plant that made the compound in question was shut down by belgian authorities because a significant amount of people from the nearby villages tested with extremely elevated fluoride levels in their blood. Whoopsies, i guess?

Worst part of it is, that unlike alkoxysilanes that react with silanol groups in the mineral substrates and chemically bond to it to produce a lasting hydrophobic surface, the PFAS are largely just stuck on and simply wash off over time. But PFAS gives a more impressive early "lotus effect" so its still used én masse.

From an environmental standpoint i'm looking forward to a time where legislation is strict enough so companies cant weasel themselves past it anymore because "well, this compound is legally distinct from the ones you've banned, therefore we get to throw it into the environment for a few more years, LOL".

[bits]

there are two types of solvents in this world: those that are reactive, and those that haven't been heated enough.

[SomnolentFudge]

Tom from E&F "The atmosphere is natures bin"
3M "The kidneys are natures bin"

[jimsvideos]

I'm _certain_ 3M will gladly be upfront and transparent about health and environmental impacts of their products.

[lexinwonderland]

okay as a biochemistry student who spent half their "honeymoon period" with the field studying anesthetics (especially haloethers!!!), your work is PHENOMENAL and it shows a level of analysis i WISH i saw in most pharmacology papers i read. also i fkn love the use of a kidney clipart instead of an R group or any other standard symbol, absolutely fucking hilarious, great tool for making a slide deck more entertaining. keep it up TC, i've been a fan since the old channel and it makes me so happy to see you prosper like this!!

[applechocolateU]

I enjoy all the other crazy YouTube chemists but I really like the level of respect and consideration you present on your channel. Glad you're getting the channel growth you deserve

[ubiquitous_phd]

Another good reminder that “unreactive” is always a relative term

[haydennorris]

I work at the Mott center for human growth and development in Detroit as part of Wayne state university. Recently we held a conference where one of the posters presented showed a significant change in DNA methylation in mouse sperm after mouse exposure to some perfluoroalkanes. I wouldn't be surprised if these compounds had a similar effect.

[WobblycogsUk]

Rule of thumb, never trust anything with that much fluorine in it.

[duuude]

We have a major problem with these PFA's in maine, lots of farmland and hunting grounds getting shut down because of them.
They are known as FOREVER chemicals, so you're not going to find anything about decomposition. They end up in the ground water because they are fairly heavy chemicals.

[evilotis]

yeah, can't say i'm surprised that a highly fluorinated 3M compound is less cuddly than they claim. they have previous here, after all: PFOS and other PFCs, in particular

[aqdrobert]

Salesman: If my UV laser pointer does not make this fluorine compound blow us up, it's SAFE.

[JackClayton]

We used fully flourinated hydrocarbons back in the 80’s for assembly of microelectronics. We would lower the assembly with solder paste/rosin mixtures into the vapour phase of the boiling fluorocarbons. It was hot enough to melt the alloys.

[arnautarnautsen]

Readoption of methoxyflurane for pain management sounds like one of those callously harebrained schemes to fight the opioid epidemic by offering alternatives to opiates that don't work as well and have horrible side effects, but are not addictive. I don't want to start a whole research paper, here, but it isn't the only chemical involved.

[Sniperboy]

I love the Ex&Fire quote, brilliant channel. This was a fascinating video, thank you!

[digitalasylum]

You're the real deal, man!
Great video, great citations, great takes!
As someone with an interest in biology and chemistry, this is the kind of content I find fulfilling above all else.
Thank you!

[YuPuWang]

These SN2 products immediately came to my mind when you said "white precipitate!"
Dichloromethane does that, too!

[kasuha]

There's no such thing like perfectly inert, safe, or non-toxic chemical. It's always about finding a compromise.

[aloysiuskurnia]

On the poll you posted, I thought that I don't really care about the existence of video camera in your video (as in "I'm fine with it, I'd just follow along") but actually I just realized that having a video camera there makes it more fresh compared to bare presentation slides!

Also I hope to see more chemical structure binding to random objects, we had carrots and now we got kidneys :p

[HiwasseeRiver]

Imagine dumping heat to outside air and outside air can be as cold at -80F. The application I was constructing did just that and used a flammable hydrocarbon that flowed at -80F. Most of the people involved in the project recognized the fire hazard and didn't want the flammable hydrocarbon - we pitched the perfluoro products, but the project didn't like the cost - I think it has a good niche based solely on physical properties.