So I think I dyed my hands purple in a chemistry accident

[Reverend_Smitty]

I had Chem lab last night (and for the record I hate everything about the subject) and we were doing an experiment using silver nitrate and silver bromide. All I know is the professor said not to pour the stuff down the drain but he never mentioned anything about being careful not to spill it on yourself. I didn't think much of it last night and I guess a little bit of the stuff got on my hands as I was cleaning up but when I woke up this morning 3 fingertips on each hand were purple.

I sort of freaked out because I had no idea why and tried to scrub it off (but to no avail) so my roommates and I were brainstorming and one said "were you working with Iodine in chem last night" I wasn't but the light bulb went off in my head, it had to be something from chemistry. So does anyone know if either one of those compounds will dye your skin? Because if that's not the case I have to go back to being freaked out over my mysterious purple hands.

It looks like I voted in the Iraqi election!

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Solidarity.

Take a pic and post it on the freeper site. It would blow their minds to see that... a liberal with stained purple fingers!

[Orsino]

2. Yeah, silver nitrate actually "develops"...

...over a few hours, depending on ambient light. When I taught chem, I had a few students give themselves temporary tattoos.

It'll fade in a few days. Scrubbing probably won't help.

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. This place is really a wealth of information

I was a bit worried this morning but I feel much better knowing what I did to myself and that it's not really too serious. Thats pretty cool how it develops over time like that. My initial thought was "I thought my blood wasn't clotting properly and my extremities were starting to bruise" yeah I'm just that crazy

[Hissyspit]

4. There's an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show like this.

He and Mary Tyler Moore accidentally dye their hands black the same night they have to go to an NAACP awards dinner. They wear white gloves, but finally, during his speech, Dick takes them off and everyone learns a lesson about living together in harmony.

[madinmaryland]

5. You voted 10 times in the Iraqi election?

Wow!

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. Yep, I'm an Iraqi Diebold worker