RE: nitric acid

I second this. Several years ago, one of the other chemistry teachers and I
diluted concentrated nitric acid. We noticed that the beaker was VERY HOT to
the touch so we checked the temperature. It was over 100 degrees C -- hotter
than the boiling point of pure water! Be very careful when diluting acid,
always add acid in small amounts to the water while stirring

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Vande Bunt [mailto:Mike.VandeBunt@mixcom.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2002 9:55 AM
To: pinhole-discussion@pinhole.com
Subject: Re: [pinhole-discussion] nitric acid

Warning!

NEVER add water to acid, especially strong acid. Always add the acid to
water. This is such a basic safety rule that it should be considered
the First Rule of Chemistry!

The reason for this is that combining acid and water generates heat,
often quite a lot of heat. This reaction can cause small drops of
liquid to be spit out of th mixing container. What gets soit out is the
liquid that is being added TO, so if you add acid to water it is the
water that is spit out. If you add water to acid it is the scid that is
spit out AT YOU. This is also the reason that eye protection should
always be worn when working with chemicals.

If you're not a trained chemist (as I am), you are better off to not buy
concentrated nitric acid, but instead buy a dilute solution. Much safer.

Mike Vande Bunt

Jean Hanson wrote:

>Dear Dennis, Just forget the nitric acid. This is so strong it fumes
>when you take the lid off the bottle and it is hard to get because it
>is so dangerous. If you do find some,, dilute it by adding it to water
>(it is heavy and will sink at first), not adding water to it, as the
>boil up will be dangerous. Also, do it outside with plenty of
>ventilation, and near water so you can wash the outside of the bottles off
after putting
>the lids back on and can wash up any spills. IT IS DANGEROUS. Jean
>
>
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Received on Sat Oct 26 20:25:04 2002