Pickens’ chemicals similar ingredients as in OKC bombing

The chemicals Ryder Pickens had in his apartment could make an explosion that reminded Department Chief of the Bloomington Township Department of Fire and Emergency Services Faron Livingston of Marvin the Martian.

“Earth shattering kaboom,” Livingston said. “Any time you have nitrates, like with the Oklahoma City bombing, with your chlorates.”

Potassium percholarate is one chemical among several others discovered in Pickens’ basement room on Jan. 16.

Pickens, 20, is an IU University Division student. He was arrested Wednesday for attempted manufacturing of an explosive device, with bond set at $1 million surety and $10,000 cash.

Livingston recalled an explosion which occurred in 1993 at then-IU-owned Showers
Kilns near the corner of West llth and North Morton streets.

Perchlorates need to be kept moist in order to prevent combustion.

In a container of mercurous perchlorate, chlorate had collected around the rim of the cap and became dry, he said.

The friction of unscrewing the lid caused enough friction to cause an
explosion.

“Perchlorates become sensitized,” Livingston said. “The purer you get the more sensitive it is.”

Black iron oxide was another chemical found in Pickens’ basement. Iron oxides are commonly used in pyrotechnics.

The chemical reaction with the other chemicals Pickens possessed could vary depending on a person’s intent, Livingston said.

“There are various ways to increase the heat and explosion,” Livingston said. “What his intention was, who knows.”

The explosion could range anywhere from a blasting agent which is considered low impact, Livingston said, to an exothermic reaction with a large volume of flash fire.

Sodium nitrate, sulfuric acid and potassium perchlorate are chemicals available on the Internet, and were all found in Pickens’ basement.