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Chemistry Forums for Students => Inorganic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: aussieguy on May 19, 2014, 12:31:57 AM

Title: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
Post by: aussieguy on May 19, 2014, 12:31:57 AM

Hello,

I am trying to neutralize bleach with sodium thiosulfate, Then when it dries or is diluted enough, I want to apply vinegar to the surface. I just need to know if this will produce harmful byproducts or not. The vinegar is for something else.

I can only find this one equation for bleach+sodium thiosulfate:
4NaClO + Na₂S₂O₃ + 2NaOH -> 4NaCl + 2Na₂SO₄ + H₂O
but it came from an untrustworthy source.

Assuming it's correct, the byproducts are salt and sodium sulfate.

Now if vinegar is added to salt and sodium sulfate, what happens? Does it create any amount of sulfuric acid that I should be concerned with? Could I just dilute it without harming myself?

 The initial amount of bleach is small, it is dried up residue.

Title: Re: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
Post by: unsu on May 20, 2014, 12:22:41 AM

>if vinegar is added to salt and sodium sulfate, what happens?

nothing,
why would CH3COOH react with NaCl and Na2SO4?

Title: Re: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
Post by: Arkcon on May 20, 2014, 06:17:57 AM

Quote from: aussieguy on May 19, 2014, 12:31:57 AM

Hello,

I am trying to neutralize bleach with sodium thiosulfate, Then when it dries or is diluted enough, I want to apply vinegar to the surface. I just need to know if this will produce harmful byproducts or not. The vinegar is for something else.

I can only find this one equation for bleach+sodium thiosulfate:
4NaClO + Na₂S₂O₃ + 2NaOH -> 4NaCl + 2Na₂SO₄ + H₂O
but it came from an untrustworthy source.

I think that's a reasonable reaction for dilute solutions. 

Quote

Assuming it's correct, the byproducts are salt and sodium sulfate.

Now if vinegar is added to salt and sodium sulfate, what happens? Does it create any amount of sulfuric acid that I should be concerned with? Could I just dilute it without harming myself?

 The initial amount of bleach is small, it is dried up residue.

Yes ... ish, and no, not to worry.  A solution of anything is a solution of ions.  So yes, if vinegar is dissolved in water, there is some H+ in solution, and if sulfate is in the same solution, then yes sulfuric acid is what's there.  But the amount is completely trivial -- because vinegar provides very little H+ in solution.

Title: Re: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
Post by: Borek on May 20, 2014, 06:29:04 AM

Quote from: aussieguy on May 19, 2014, 12:31:57 AM

4NaClO + Na₂S₂O₃ + 2NaOH -> 4NaCl + 2Na₂SO₄ + H₂O

I think it is also possible to get something like

NaOCl + Na₂S₂O₃ :rarrow: NaCl + S + Na₂SO₄

with the elemental sulfur being produced. Still quite safe.