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Sodium hydroxide is insoluble in ether and other non-polar solvents. Similar to the hydration of sulfuric acid, dissolution of solid sodium hydroxide in water is a highly exothermic reaction [17] where a large amount of heat is liberated, posing a threat to safety through the possibility of splashing. The resulting solution is usually colorless ...
Sodium hydroxide is commonly the major constituent in commercial and industrial oven cleaners and clogged drain openers, due to its grease-dissolving abilities. Lyes decompose greases via alkaline ester hydrolysis , yielding water-soluble residues that are easily removed by rinsing.
Moreover, because the acidic or basic drain cleaners themselves are washed down the drain, this contributes to pollution in the water supply. Drain cleaners usually contain a strong base such as sodium hydroxide that decomposes hair and converts fats into water-soluble products. The reaction is exothermic, releasing heat to soften the fats.
Water is amphoteric: it has the ability to act as either an acid or a base in chemical reactions. [87] According to the Brønsted-Lowry definition, an acid is a proton (H +) donor and a base is a proton acceptor. [88] When reacting with a stronger acid, water acts as a base; when reacting with a stronger base, it acts as an acid. [88]
Potassium hydroxide is an inorganic compound with the formula K OH, and is commonly called caustic potash. Along with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), KOH is a prototypical strong base. It has many industrial and niche applications, most of which utilize its caustic nature and its reactivity toward acids.
When an acid is dissolved in water, the pH will be less than 7, while a base, or alkali, will have a pH greater than 7. A strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid, at concentration 1 mol dm −3 has a pH of 0, while a strong alkali like sodium hydroxide, at the same concentration, has a pH of 14. Since pH is a logarithmic scale, a difference of ...
Concentrated solutions are caustic (causing chemical burns). Alkaline solutions are slippery or soapy to the touch, due to the saponification of the fatty substances on the surface of the skin. Alkalis are normally water-soluble, although some like barium carbonate are only soluble when reacting with an acidic aqueous solution.
Conversely, the addition of acid converts weak acid anions to CO 2 and continuous addition of strong acids can cause the alkalinity to become less than zero. [12] For example, the following reactions take place during the addition of acid to a typical seawater solution: B(OH) − 4 + H + → B(OH) 3 + H 2 O OH − + H + → H 2 O PO 3− 4 + 2 ...