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Topic: How do I concentrate/separate HCl from a gel toilet bowl cleaner?  (Read 4837 times)

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Offline Katsurao

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Hi, I am new here, and I've finally got my hands on a source of HCl for the first time, but it's in a gel form... Is there any way to separate and extract the HCl from this gel? Any help or comment would be greatly appreciated!

Offline Arkcon

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Re: How do I concentrate/separate HCl from a gel toilet bowl cleaner?
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2015, 07:13:23 PM »
Kinda hard to say.  It really depends on the gel, and the manufacturer would likely like to keep it a secret.  Consider however, how is it not useful for your application while its in gel form?
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

Offline Katsurao

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Re: How do I concentrate/separate HCl from a gel toilet bowl cleaner?
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2015, 07:26:13 PM »
I'd just like to use it in general experiments, for example; making nitric acid, ect. But it's kind of annoying because a decent amount stays in the container I pour it into, like a graduated cylinder.

Offline discodermolide

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Re: How do I concentrate/separate HCl from a gel toilet bowl cleaner?
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2015, 07:50:58 PM »
Most of them only have around a 10% concentration of HCl along with hoards of other compounds. I don't think that isolation of the HCl will be possible. Certainly trying to make nitric acid from this mess will only give you a bigger mess.
Try and obtain a pure sample of aqueous HCl.
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Offline Arkcon

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Re: How do I concentrate/separate HCl from a gel toilet bowl cleaner?
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2015, 08:20:43 PM »
Or a crude sample of HCl, sold as muriatic acid, from the hardware store.  It will be about as concentrated as HCl can be, and while a little bit contaminated, at least adequate for home experiments.  Bonus:  the bottle will have safe handling information printed on it, so you won't have to guess, read third hand internet accounts, or hold us liable for your safety, you can just be sure you've followed precautions that the bottle you intend to use suggests for your safety.
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

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