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Macavity224
Ubermensch



Registered: 06/09/11
Posts: 719
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So how dangerous IS the reaction between h2o and NaOH?
#19237096 - 12/06/13 03:29 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I'm a very paranoid, nervous person, so as you can imagine, playing with lye and paint thinner doesn't make me feel very warm and fuzzy inside. I think the part that gives me the most anxiety about an extraction is mixing water with sodium hydroxide. I've read some horror stories on this board and others about adding the lye to the water too fast, destroying a kitchen, almost going blind, etc. etc.
So exactly, how dangerous is this step in an extraction? Do you only get an extreme reaction when dealing with massive quantities? (I've never dealt with more than 50-100g of NaOH at once) Does it depend on how fast you add it? This reaction is one thing I can't seem to find a lot of info about.
For the record, I wear gloves, goggles, a mask, and leave no exposed skin when using this stuff. I'm not worried about actually spilling any on me or anything, I'm more anxious about it turning my home into a crater.
Thanks
-------------------- "O my soul, I taught you to say "Today" as well as "Once" and "Formerly," and to dance your dance over every here and there and yonder." Everything I post here is not true. Do not believe a single word of it.
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funkerdslr
Δ9



Registered: 04/08/13
Posts: 384
Last seen: 5 years, 9 months
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Re: So how dangerous IS the reaction between h2o and NaOH? [Re: Macavity224]
#19237152 - 12/06/13 03:43 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ok, so what you never want to do is add h2o to NaoH. When you hear of melt downs happening, that's what happened. Making lye by mixing h20 and NaoH creates heat but not an insane amount unless you're dumping the NaOH in all at once. just be sensible and go slowly.
Also water should always be cold. Adding sodium hydroxide to hot water will increase the exothermic reaction and result in spattering (there goes some skin and clothing)
-------------------- RIP Alice
<3 Chinacat72 <3
Edited by funkerdslr (12/06/13 03:49 PM)
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bishlap
Po Thead


Registered: 01/04/12
Posts: 4,085
Last seen: 5 years, 1 month
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Re: So how dangerous IS the reaction between h2o and NaOH? [Re: funkerdslr]
#19237423 - 12/06/13 04:49 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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buy chem resistant gloves, glasses and a lab coat if you can find one. also a respirator doesn't hurt.
dont use glass, hdpe2 doesn't shatter or get etched by the lye.
better to be safe than sorry
-------------------- "If you're not worried that you took way to much, you didn't take enough" - Terrence McKenna There is no soul, only the ego dies. The body was never yours.
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Macavity224
Ubermensch



Registered: 06/09/11
Posts: 719
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Re: So how dangerous IS the reaction between h2o and NaOH? [Re: funkerdslr]
#19237606 - 12/06/13 05:33 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
funkerdslr said: Ok, so what you never want to do is add h2o to NaoH. When you hear of melt downs happening, that's what happened. Making lye by mixing h20 and NaoH creates heat but not an insane amount unless you're dumping the NaOH in all at once. just be sensible and go slowly.
Also water should always be cold. Adding sodium hydroxide to hot water will increase the exothermic reaction and result in spattering (there goes some skin and clothing)
Short, sweet, and to the point. Why I love the Shroomery 
So what actually does happen when water is added to NaOH?
-------------------- "O my soul, I taught you to say "Today" as well as "Once" and "Formerly," and to dance your dance over every here and there and yonder." Everything I post here is not true. Do not believe a single word of it.
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HarryL
Squnä'am



Registered: 11/16/10
Posts: 8,070
Loc: Washington State
Last seen: 4 years, 8 months
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Re: So how dangerous IS the reaction between h2o and NaOH? [Re: Macavity224]
#19237757 - 12/06/13 06:02 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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It's exothermic reaction... Generates heat...
NaOH + H20 ---> Na+ + OH-aq + heat (OH makes the water basic)
If you do it slowly... Or large volume of water it's ok... Not very dangerous
Would wear gloves and eye protection..... Solution is very caustic to skin, eyes and mucus membranes ... Wash well if you get any on you
Mix it and put the container in the sink... Once the NaOH is dissolved, the heat just dissipates... Leaving the basic solution
-------------------- Mushroom hunting: One bad mushroom can ruin your day! Know it or throw it.
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funkerdslr
Δ9



Registered: 04/08/13
Posts: 384
Last seen: 5 years, 9 months
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Re: So how dangerous IS the reaction between h2o and NaOH? [Re: Macavity224]
#19237845 - 12/06/13 06:22 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Macavity224 said:
Quote:
funkerdslr said: Ok, so what you never want to do is add h2o to NaoH. When you hear of melt downs happening, that's what happened. Making lye by mixing h20 and NaoH creates heat but not an insane amount unless you're dumping the NaOH in all at once. just be sensible and go slowly.
Also water should always be cold. Adding sodium hydroxide to hot water will increase the exothermic reaction and result in spattering (there goes some skin and clothing)
So what actually does happen when water is added to NaOH?
Think about it this way. You have a lump of potentially "explosive" material. You can either break it up and dissolve it slowly and release the energy over time, or you can pour water on it and set the whole lot off at once.
The water contains the energy of the reaction and boils so you dont get burning CS flying at you. Oh, and also you need to let the water cool off between adding NaOH, depending on how much you're mixing up, you'll need to do it in steps so the container and mix doesnt get too hot.
-------------------- RIP Alice
<3 Chinacat72 <3
Edited by funkerdslr (12/06/13 06:25 PM)
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Macavity224
Ubermensch



Registered: 06/09/11
Posts: 719
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Re: So how dangerous IS the reaction between h2o and NaOH? [Re: funkerdslr]
#19239597 - 12/07/13 05:36 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Thanks dudes!
-------------------- "O my soul, I taught you to say "Today" as well as "Once" and "Formerly," and to dance your dance over every here and there and yonder." Everything I post here is not true. Do not believe a single word of it.
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