Chemicals and Their Dangers
Chemicals are dangerous substances, whether they are used in homes or laboratories. This is because it might be extremely harmful if the chemicals are put together, whether voluntarily or inadvertently. Explosions and lethal gases can result from mixing ordinary compounds. Fortunately, a little basic understanding of common household chemicals can go a long way toward ensuring a homeowner's safety.Examining Vinegar and Bleach
The study will examine vinegar as an acid and bleach as a base, both of which are often used in households. Acetic acid makes up the chemical composition of vinegar, whereas sodium hypochlorite (NAOCL) does for bleach (CH3COOH). Bleach is a clear, pale yellow fluid which is considered hazardous because it can cause skin irritation and grave irritation to the eyes. Moreover, bleach reacts with various household chemicals such as acid-containing products to form deadly gases such as chlorine. Sodium Hypochlorite is incompatible with ammonia-containing products, acids, toilet bowl cleaners and even rust removers. Vinegar, on the other hand, is a liquid that contains acetic acid thus it is incompatible with bleach. This chemical presents a hazard to body organs such as eyes and the skin if used recklessly (The Clorox Company, 2017). Therefore, handling and storage precautions should be considered necessary while interacting with bleach. First and foremost, bleach containers should be tightly closed and placed in a dry, fresh and properly ventilated area. Secondly, the two should be handled by industrial hygiene and proper safety practice.Potential Hazards of Mixing Vinegar and Bleach
During an emergency response incident, vinegar and bleach can mix. This can lead to a reaction between Sodium Hypochlorite with Acetic acid contained in the vinegar to form toxic chlorine gas. The following reaction occurs:. This kind of response also yields a lot of heat that might hinder the efforts of the first responders such as fire service professionals (The United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). In addition to that, vinegar does not decompose if stored correctly and it does not burn. A bleach related fire might be inefficient to put off using a water spray because Sodium Hypochlorite is a strong oxidizing agent.Enhancing Safety through Knowledge
In conclusion, data from Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and the U.S. EPA Chemical Mixing Compatibility Chart is in agreement especially in the outcome that can occur when vinegar and bleach happen to mix. Knowledge gained from the SDS and the compatibility charts is useful for prevention of hazards that might happen at home or the workplace. I intend to use this information to teach others on how to handle and store these chemical substances to improve safety.References
Burke.R. (2013).Hazardous Materials Chemistry for Emergency Responders, Third Edition. Boca Raton, Florida.CRC Press.
The Clorox Company (2017). Safety Data Sheets: Clorox® Splash-less Regular Bleach. Online. Available at https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/sds/clorox-splash-less-regular-bleach/ . (Accessed 28th August 2017).
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (2016). A Method for Determining the Compatibility of Hazardous Wastes. Online. Available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-03/documents/compat-haz-waste.pdf. (Accessed 28th August 2017).
