Dave

Have you checked with your local tip? It is my understanding that they are equipped, and have a responsibility, to dispose of hazardous chemicals.

An alternative might be to contact a local garage or car tyre/ battery supplier.

Cheers

Norman

Edited By NJH on 22/08/2012 00:05:27

You could dilute it (1) and neutralise it (2).

(1) Add acid to cold water in a large tub, very slowly, stirring continuously. If it starts to get too hot, leave it for an hour or two to cool down. Wear eye protection and old clothes. Suggest you let it down in about 9-10 times its volume of water ready for step (2).

(2) Cheapest alternative for this would probably be a bag of builder's lime. It's calcium oxide, so it shouldn't froth much when added. Keep adding it – carefully – until the liquid is no longer acid (doesn't fizz when you put a bit of bicarb in it). The resulting sludge will be calcium sulphate, perfectly innocuous and probably good for the garden (but don't tell anyone I suggested it, it's probably against some daft EU law despite the fact that there are whole hills made of the stuff.) The builder's lime is mildly caustic when wet, so wear gloves, but nothing too serious, builders use it all the time.

David

Edited By David Littlewood on 22/08/2012 00:31:32

Andy

Thank you – you have made my day !!

I usually peruse this forum whilst eating breakfast and I was following your useful advice to Dave. Then I came to the bit :-

"Sodium sulphate is harmless, but don't drink it, because it was once used as a laxative known as Glauber's Salts."

I choked on my cornflakes!

Cheers

Norman

Sorry about your fishtank, Jon. I hope it wasn't too hard to clear up the resulting mess and corrosion. You had the easier task, Norman, wiping the cereal-based pebbledash off the table, computer and Mrs Norman (if any).

Thanks for the PM, Dave. I'll be in touch tonight.

Andy

I may have a use for some.

Dr Crippen

To test the concentration you can try dipping a dead cat head first into the solution, grasping it firmly by the tail and lowering slowly to avoid splashing. PPE must be worn at all times and only attempt this in a well ventilated area away from any possible ignitian sources. (one presumes death by natural causes(if you dont have a dead cat any reasonably sized mamal will do)). If it is close to the normal upper limit of 40% then upon removal from said solution said cat should be visually distressed. This assumes that said kitty was not in a state of dire distress as rigor set in! If on the other hand the conc has been diluted one might expect to see mogge re-enter the light with an otherwise unchanged complection. Hope this helps.

Neil

Your post made me laugh – but you had the wrong murderer; the acid bath man was John George Haig, hanged for serial murder. He was AFAIK actually brought up in the same village as my father, thought there was quite a few years between them and my father didn't know him except by repute. He also attended the same school my father and I did. IIRC, Crippen (was alledged to have) buried his wife under the floor of his house; there was I think a small residual doubt whether he actually murdered her.

David

Edited By David Littlewood on 24/08/2012 23:23:58

Quote from Fizzy's "dead cats are better than litmus" post:: "If it is close to the normal upper limit of 40%……"

Well, the well-protected, 3/4 full gallon bottle which Dave C very kindly gave me the other night says 98%, which is about as concentrated as sulphuric acid comes.

It will last me more than my lifetime, so if anyone in the Manchester area wants any, send me a PM, and you are welcome to a cupful; bring your own cup

Johnny was a chemist's son,
But Johnny is no more

What Johnny thought was H2O
Was H2SO4

Andy

Potassium ethoxide??

David

Please be extremely careful with what you have (concentrated H2SO4). I cannot stress how dangerous this is – it will go through your skin and flesh in a second. It realy should be taken to your local university chemistry department and left with them – I am stunned it is even out there. If you happen to drop the bottle and it breaks that is most certainly the end of you. Seriously!

Well, well Fizzy, don't exaggerate! I handled 98% sulfuric acid (in a glass bottle) when I was less than 14 years old, and I'm nearing 70 now. I don't think the small boo-boos I suffer now are reminiscences of the couple of skin burns I got from that stuff.

SpeedyBuilder, it is a long time wish of me to make a visit in one of these French shops. Unfortunately I don't know any names, and cannot raid all possible shops in a reasonable time. So I would be pleased to learn some (chain shop?) names to be able to make a direct jump. It is quite well known that all kind of interesting stuff is still available there.

Greetings, Hansrudolf

Speedy,

Sodium chloride becoming difficult to buy in France? Are they becoming health-obsessed or do they just not like you adding seasoning to the amount the divine chef thought was appropriate?

David