Molecules: You'd better learn to live with them.
Edit: Looks like I might be off on this.
CNN has a clip in the rotation right now about the yearly tradition of dying the Chicago river green for St. Patrick's day. They're saying it's a "secret orange dye." Well, let me put it through the decomplicator for you.
As you might remember from last year, it's fluorescein. That is all. Happy St. Patrick's day.
Comments
Are you sure it's not leprechauns?
Posted by: J-Dog | March 16, 2008 7:36 PM
The river looks green without the dye...Just sayin'.
Posted by: Chi-town gnome | March 17, 2008 2:27 AM
I worked with someone who used to try to sneak fluorescein into peoples drinks, or at least claimed to.
Posted by: Brian | March 17, 2008 8:36 AM
Impure sodium fluorescein is "uranine" (C.I. Acid Yellow 73). As with phenolphthalein, impurities in low grade stuff can cause enhanced lower gastrointestinal motility. How could anybody knowingly ingest a sufficient slug of the stuff?
Abs(max) = 490 nm
Emis(max) = 514 nm
Isoabs = 460 nm (vs. pH)
One imagines select Plumbers Union members had some very moving moments after their sloppy dispersal of powdered solids - no face masks.
Posted by: Uncle Al | March 17, 2008 11:20 AM
Chicago has not used fluorescein to dye the river green for a number of years. The EPA ordered them to stop using it because it is harmful to the fish populations. This is probably how they could be so cavalier about dumping the stuff without using face masks.
Whatever nontoxic ingredient they use now is kept secret.
http://media.www.fairfieldmirror.com/media/storage/paper148/news/2003/03/20/OnlineExclusives/Other.Cities.DyeIng.To.Know.What.Turns.Chicago.River.Green-395077.shtml
Posted by: Sarah | March 17, 2008 4:49 PM