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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Citizen Chemist => Topic started by: nousername on February 18, 2012, 01:54:42 PM

Title: Is this still Sodium Acetate?
Post by: nousername on February 18, 2012, 01:54:42 PM

So instead of using regular vinegar i used apple cider vinegar. 5%.

2 tblspoons ACV
1 tblspoon Sodium Bicarbonate

After reaction was done i placed in microwave and this is what i got. A brown flakey substance.

I dont know anything about this but i assume its just brown due to the color of the vinegar. Thanks for replys!

(https://www.chemicalforums.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi40.tinypic.com%2F23rr4fa.jpg&hash=5c92d25bf001a093f1dd5d1c9fd73ee0e7f8becf)

Title: Re: Is this still Sodium Acetate?
Post by: Arkcon on February 18, 2012, 02:03:45 PM

The brown color may be due to colored contaminates in the cider vinegar.  Excessive heating can also char organic materials, especially if there's little water present to carry heat away.  But yes, most of the solid is sodium acetate.  You can get a purer product if you start with distilled white vinegar.  Avoid drying things in the household microwave -- there's really nowhere for the water vapor to go, and excessive heating can damage the plastic parts of the microwave's chamber.

Title: Re: Is this still Sodium Acetate?
Post by: nousername on February 18, 2012, 02:06:15 PM

Thank you sir :) I would have used White vinegar but i did not feel like running to the store.

Title: Re: Is this still Sodium Acetate?
Post by: Wastrel on February 19, 2012, 07:34:58 AM

That seems like a lot of bicarbonate and quite a small amount of acid.   It would probably be best to drip in acid until the fizzing stops to get the right ratio.

Given some random Google suggestions for the volume amounts I'd have thought it closer to 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate to 4 tablespoons of 5% ACV.  That's a guess though, the fizzing should tell you for sure.