Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!hao!boulder!sunybcs!kitty!larry
From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: What processes create ozone?
Message-ID: <2340@kitty.UUCP>
Date: 5 Jan 88 16:40:45 GMT
References: <159@heurikon.UUCP> <3095@phri.UUCP> <2337@kitty.UUCP> <2139@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU>
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 38
Keywords: ozone bad puns
Summary: Periodic acid

In article <2139@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU>, sethg@athena.mit.edu (Seth A. Gordon) writes:
> In article <2337@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes:
> >> > Are there any chemical or electrical processes that produce ozone?
> >4.	Heating of periodic acid.
> 
> Pardon my ignorance of chemistry, but what's periodic acid?

	Oh, my!  It never occured to me that I would be accused of making a
pun.
	All kidding azide, periodic acid is a real chemical.  Its formula is
HIO4 (there is also some water of crystallization, but I don't remember how
much).  Periodic acid is a white crystalline substance which can be prepared
from elemental iodine and perchloric acid [not recommended for home science
experiments :-) ].
	Periodic acid is a potent oxidizing agent which will cause spontaneous
combustion upon contact with many organic materials.

> Is it derived from periodic tables?

	You must be thinking of mendelevium (Md). :-)

> Does it have something to do with menstruation?

	No.  But you have reminded me of a 1/2-amusing experience I had
some years back.  I wrote a report concerning a quality control measurement
system, and used the word "mensuration" - which is defined as the science
of measurement, especially when applied to angular measurement.  The secretary
who typed the final report had no technical knoweldge, and took it upon
herself to change each occurence of "mensuration" to "menstruation".  This
was really an innocent mistake on her part.  Needless to say, the distributed
report raised a few eyebrows and produced many guffaws.  I was sufficiently
embarrased, however, that I have never used the word "mensuration" since -
for fear of having it turned into "menstruation".

<>  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York
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