This is also similar to the cause of one of the first heavily-documented medication-related disasters in the US, which led to the current FDA regulatory process. In 1935, the antibiotic sulfanilamide was discovered. It isn’t very soluble in most things, so was typically manufactured as tablets. In 1937, S.E. Massangill’s chief pharmacist and chemist announced raspberry-flavored elixir sulfanilamide, a syrup form of the antibiotic. It went through no testing for safety or efficacy.
The diethylene glycol (DEG) used to dissolve the sulfanilamide caused at least 100 people to have a far worse time than your happy bucket creature, on account of sudden, acute kidney failure due to the DEG being metabolized into oxalic acid.
I do agree with you that it’s a cool chemical though (outside of the toxicity). Personally, I’d say that my favorite crystal might be iron pyrite. It can be used to spark a fire (like flint) and is showing some possible use as a semiconductor for photovoltaics. More than that, though, it forms two rather distinct and neat crystal shapes: cubes and pyritohedra (natural dodecahedra). And it’s nice and shiny, while having fairly low monetary value.
This is also similar to the cause of one of the first heavily-documented medication-related disasters in the US, which led to the current FDA regulatory process. In 1935, the antibiotic sulfanilamide was discovered. It isn’t very soluble in most things, so was typically manufactured as tablets. In 1937, S.E. Massangill’s chief pharmacist and chemist announced raspberry-flavored elixir sulfanilamide, a syrup form of the antibiotic. It went through no testing for safety or efficacy.
The diethylene glycol (DEG) used to dissolve the sulfanilamide caused at least 100 people to have a far worse time than your happy bucket creature, on account of sudden, acute kidney failure due to the DEG being metabolized into oxalic acid.
I do agree with you that it’s a cool chemical though (outside of the toxicity). Personally, I’d say that my favorite crystal might be iron pyrite. It can be used to spark a fire (like flint) and is showing some possible use as a semiconductor for photovoltaics. More than that, though, it forms two rather distinct and neat crystal shapes: cubes and pyritohedra (natural dodecahedra). And it’s nice and shiny, while having fairly low monetary value.