March 28, 2024, 05:09:57 PM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar  (Read 3705 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline aussieguy

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
« 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.

Offline unsu

  • Regular Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 65
  • Mole Snacks: +8/-0
Re: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
« Reply #1 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?

Offline Arkcon

  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7367
  • Mole Snacks: +533/-147
Re: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2014, 06:17:57 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.
Hey, I'm not judging.  I just like to shoot straight.  I'm a man of science.

Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27633
  • Mole Snacks: +1799/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
Re: Neutralizing Bleach, byproducts and vinegar
« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2014, 06:29:04 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.
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Sponsored Links