Sulfuric acid as toilet bowl cleaner?
bob
intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with another
method. The bottle sits unused.
Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient, since
sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl cleaner?
mike
I hope you're not serious:
http://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/SU/sulfuric_acid_concentrated.html
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/s8234.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfuric_acid
It is not that similar to hydrochloric acid.
LSMFT
Why not. I use bleach, sometimes Scrub Free. An acid or base will clean
well.
--
All is as it is.
mm
>Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with the
>intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with another
>method. The bottle sits unused.
>
>Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient, since
Some brands call it hydrochloric acid and some hydrogen chloride.
Isn't that strange!
>sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl cleaner?
I don't know about this, but phosphoric acid is similar too, and they
put that in Coke and we drink it. That doesn't mean we should drink
the other acids.
I used to know what stomach acid was..."Gastric acid is a digestive
fluid, formed in the stomach. It has a pH of 1 to 2 and is composed of
hydrochloric acid (HCl) (around 0.5%, or 5000 parts per million), and
large quantities of potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride
(NaCl)" wikip
Maybe ask in sci.chemistry if you can use your bottle of acid for this
or something else.
Frank
I don't see any problem in using it but you have to take more caution
with sulfuric acid than hydrochloric acid as I find it more corrosive to
clothing than hydrochloric because it will not evaporate and stay on the
clothing.
I don't think they sell the concentrations of sulfuric acid that will
react violently with water but this is a caution and acid should always
be poured into water and not vice versa. It is always a good idea to
have on eye protection when working with corrosives.
Additionally the sulfate salts, e.g. ferric sulfate, are not as soluble
as the chlorides and sulfuric acid may not be as efficient as
hydrochloric in removing stains.
GeorgeD
Some toilet bowl cleaners are (were) sodium bisulfate (Vanish for
example). Sodium bisulfate is a powder which when mixed with water
forms sulfuric acid.
I wouldn't mix methods. I think sulfuric acid and chlorine products can
result in poisonous gas.
Jim Yanik
email.me:
the acid will ETCH the porcelain surface and make it harder to clean.
acid is what's used for bathtub refinishing,to etach the porcelain surface
for better adhesion of the epoxy finish.
--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com
dadiOH
> On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:13 -0700, "bob" <nos...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store
>> with the intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog
>> with another method. The bottle sits unused.
>>
>> Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main
>> ingredient, since
>
> Some brands call it hydrochloric acid and some hydrogen chloride.
> Isn't that strange!
Hydrogen chloride is gas; add water and it becomes hydrochloric acid.
________
>> sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl
>> cleaner?
>
> I don't know about this, but phosphoric acid is similar too, and they
> put that in Coke and we drink it. That doesn't mean we should drink
> the other acids.
Phosphoric acid has about the same relationship to sulphuric acid as Tums do
to lye. Whether or not you can drink any depends on the degree of dilution.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
Jon Danniken
> Some brands call it hydrochloric acid and some hydrogen chloride.
> Isn't that strange!
As long as they don't put any dihydrogen monoxide in it, that stuff is
really toxic.
Jon
Frank
It might, but it is HF that is usually used to etch glass, etc. If
sulfuric was that hard on porcelain, it probably would not be
recommended as a drain cleaner.
Stormin Mormon
Also been found in municipal water systems.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Jon Danniken" <jonSPAMMEN...@yahSPAMhoo.com> wrote
in message news:imtj5s$nsj$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
Frank
> On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:13 -0700, "bob"<nos...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> acid.
>
> 2 cents...
Sparingly, I've put practically everything down my septic system.
I cringe when wife puts stuff in all the toilets at the same time, but
system has survived. On advice of septic clean out guy, we only use
liquid detergents to wash clothes and avoid putting fats down drain as
they don't degrade as readily and form cake on top of tank.
In other url I found, I see caution on using HCl:
http://www.stainexpert.co.uk/HowToGetGleamingToiletsAndSinks.html
Robert Green
news:imta3q$2ji$1...@dont-email.me...
> On 3/29/2011 12:01 PM, bob wrote:
> > Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with
> > the intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with
> > another method. The bottle sits unused.
> >
> > Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient,
> > since sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl
> > cleaner?
>
> I don't see any problem in using it but you have to take more caution
> with sulfuric acid than hydrochloric acid as I find it more corrosive to
> clothing than hydrochloric because it will not evaporate and stay on the
> clothing.
What he needs is fuming red nitric acid. (-: I splattered some when I was
working in a photochem plant and it burned through my pants (bell bottoms,
fortunately) like a ray gun blast and proceeded to dissolve my workboots. I
reached for the reinforced chemical wipe clothes we had and within a second
the paper had gone up in a puff of smoke leaving only the plastic
reinforcing mesh. It taught me to respect the acids of the world.
I wouldn't recommend sulfuric acid for toilet cleaning, especially if the
concentration was not known. There are far better, less noxious chemicals
like oxalic acid to handle rust stains. Plus, modern toilets seem to have
a tendency to spit when flushed. I saw one study that used fluorescent dye
in the tank showing that water from the flush could reach as high as the
height where people mount toothbrush holders. So, if you're going to use it
anyway, flush with the cover down and wear goggles, gloves and long sleeved
shirts and long pants.
--
Bobby G.
--
Bobby G.
bob
absolutely NO!!!
the concentration is unknown. pouring acid into water can lead to a
raid dissociation reaction which can throw all kinds of stuff back in
your face. AND the residue left behind...even a few drops...will be
VERY dangerous.
i'm an MS chemist. i use H2SO4 routinely in my work. you do NOT want
to do this. H2SO4 has some great properties when used in certain
applications but it should NEVER be used for THIS applicatiion!
bob
although you havent suggested it, mixing sodium hypochlorate (bleach)
and H2SO4 can release chlorine gas AND sulfuric poured into a drain
can react EXPLOSIVELY with any METAL PIPES, organic materials (such as
hair, etc) and lead to some REAL unpleasant results.
i'm a chemist and have used sulfuric for 30 years in various
applications. this is NOT one of them!
bob
wrote:
>On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:13 -0700, "bob" <nos...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with the
>>intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with another
>>method. The bottle sits unused.
>>
>>Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient, since
>
>Some brands call it hydrochloric acid and some hydrogen chloride.
>Isn't that strange!
>
>>sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl cleaner?
>
>I don't know about this, but phosphoric acid is similar too, and they
>put that in Coke and we drink it. That doesn't mean we should drink
>the other acids.
no, no no no....phosphoric acid is a much WEAKER acid than sulfuric
is.
>
>Maybe ask in sci.chemistry if you can use your bottle of acid for this
>or something else.
i have and MS in chemistry, have used sulfuric for 30 years in
industry. this is NOT an application that sulfuric should be used for.
bob
some kid won a science award a few years ago for a project pointing
out the hazards of dihydrogen monoxide. we in the coast guard are very
familiar with the dangers of this material...
>
bob
<robert_g...@yah00.com> wrote:
>
>What he needs is fuming red nitric acid. (-: I splattered some when I was
>working in a photochem plant and it burned through my pants (bell bottoms,
>fortunately) like a ray gun blast and proceeded to dissolve my workboots. I
>reached for the reinforced chemical wipe clothes we had and within a second
>the paper had gone up in a puff of smoke leaving only the plastic
>reinforcing mesh. It taught me to respect the acids of the world.
>
>I wouldn't recommend sulfuric acid for toilet cleaning, especially if the
>concentration was not known. There are far better, less noxious chemicals
>like oxalic acid to handle rust stains. Plus, modern toilets seem to have
>a tendency to spit when flushed. I saw one study that used fluorescent dye
>in the tank showing that water from the flush could reach as high as the
>height where people mount toothbrush holders. So, if you're going to use it
>anyway, flush with the cover down and wear goggles, gloves and long sleeved
>shirts and long pants.
this is ANOTHER danger...the vapors from the acid. concentrated acid
vapors TRAVEL and will mix with ANY water...such as material remaining
on the shower walls, etc...
and if you have pets in the house, they often do drink water from the
shower (ours do).
>
>--
>Bobby G.
bob
>On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:13 -0700, "bob" <nos...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with the
>>intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with another
>>method. The bottle sits unused.
>>
>>Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient, since
>>sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl cleaner?
>
>absolutely NO!!!
>
>the concentration is unknown. pouring acid into water can lead to a
>raid dissociation reaction which can throw all kinds of stuff back in
>your face. AND the residue left behind...even a few drops...will be
>VERY dangerous.
should be 'rapid' dissociation reaction...
dadiOH
> Frank <frankperi...@comcast.net> wrote in
> news:imta3q$2ji$1@dont- email.me:
>
>> On 3/29/2011 12:01 PM, bob wrote:
>>> Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store
>>> with the intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog
>>> with another method. The bottle sits unused.
>>>
>>> Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main
>>> ingredient, since sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a
>>> toilet bowl cleaner?
>>
>> I don't see any problem in using it but you have to take more caution
>> with sulfuric acid than hydrochloric acid as I find it more
>> corrosive to clothing than hydrochloric because it will not
>> evaporate and stay on the clothing.
>>
>> I don't think they sell the concentrations of sulfuric acid that will
>> react violently with water but this is a caution and acid should
>> always be poured into water and not vice versa. It is always a good
>> idea to have on eye protection when working with corrosives.
>>
>> Additionally the sulfate salts, e.g. ferric sulfate, are not as
>> soluble as the chlorides and sulfuric acid may not be as efficient as
>> hydrochloric in removing stains.
>>
>
> the acid will ETCH the porcelain surface and make it harder to clean.
Perhaps you are thinking of hydroflouric acid? It does attack glass
(porcelain), sulfuric does not; after all, it comes in glass bottles :)
mm
wrote:
>mm wrote:
>> On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:13 -0700, "bob" <nos...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store
>>> with the intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog
>>> with another method. The bottle sits unused.
>>>
>>> Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main
>>> ingredient, since
>>
>> Some brands call it hydrochloric acid and some hydrogen chloride.
>> Isn't that strange!
>
>Hydrogen chloride is gas; add water and it becomes hydrochloric acid.
Nonetheless, the Works disinfectant toilet bowl cleaner lists the
active ingeredient as Hydrogen Chloride, its only mention.
And Lysol disinfectant power toilet bowl cleaner says that and also
says "Contains Hydrochloric Acid".
mm
>On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:21:46 -0400, mm <NOPSAM...@bigfoot.com>
>wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:01:13 -0700, "bob" <nos...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with the
>>>intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with another
>>>method. The bottle sits unused.
>>>
>>>Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient, since
>>
>>Some brands call it hydrochloric acid and some hydrogen chloride.
>>Isn't that strange!
>>
>>>sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl cleaner?
>>
>>I don't know about this, but phosphoric acid is similar too, and they
>>put that in Coke and we drink it. That doesn't mean we should drink
>>the other acids.
>
>no, no no no....phosphoric acid is a much WEAKER acid than sulfuric
>is.
Yes, yes, yes, they are similar in that they are both acids. You don't
seem to have gotten my point, which is that not all acids are alike,
which is the same point I think you made in your first reply to LSMFT,
after I posted.
>
>>
>>Maybe ask in sci.chemistry if you can use your bottle of acid for this
>>or something else.
>
>i have and MS in chemistry, have used sulfuric for 30 years in
>industry. this is NOT an application that sulfuric should be used for.
Tell the other Bob, not me.
mm
wrote:
>Frank <frankperi...@comcast.net> wrote in news:imta3q$2ji$1@dont-
>email.me:
>
>> On 3/29/2011 12:01 PM, bob wrote:
>>> Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with
>>> the intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with
>>> another method. The bottle sits unused.
>>>
>>> Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient,
>>> since sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl
>>> cleaner?
>>
>> I don't see any problem in using it but you have to take more caution
>> with sulfuric acid than hydrochloric acid as I find it more corrosive to
>> clothing than hydrochloric because it will not evaporate and stay on the
>> clothing.
>>
>> I don't think they sell the concentrations of sulfuric acid that will
>> react violently with water but this is a caution and acid should always
>> be poured into water and not vice versa. It is always a good idea to
>> have on eye protection when working with corrosives.
>>
>> Additionally the sulfate salts, e.g. ferric sulfate, are not as soluble
>> as the chlorides and sulfuric acid may not be as efficient as
>> hydrochloric in removing stains.
>>
>
>the acid will ETCH the porcelain surface and make it harder to clean.
Which acid(s) will do this?
bud--
bud--
> On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:03:51 -0400, LSMFT<bol...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>> bob wrote:
>>> Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with
>>> the intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with
>>> another method. The bottle sits unused.
>>>
>>> Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient,
>>> since sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl
>>> cleaner?
>>
>> Why not. I use bleach, sometimes Scrub Free. An acid or base will clean
>> well.
>
> although you havent suggested it, mixing sodium hypochlorate (bleach)
> and H2SO4 can release chlorine gas
> AND sulfuric poured into a drain
> can react EXPLOSIVELY with any METAL PIPES, organic materials (such as
> hair, etc) and lead to some REAL unpleasant results.
But sulfuric acid is (was?) a common drain cleaner. One of its features
is attacking organic blocks. Would think drain cleaner would have to be
strong. It was certainly one of the more hazardous household chemicals.
The OP didn't say, but the sulfuric acid he bought was probably a drain
cleaner.
>
> i'm a chemist and have used sulfuric for 30 years in various
> applications. this is NOT one of them!
My guess is that toilet bowl tends to get mineral accumulation.
Hydrochloric acid breaks them down. Does sulfuric?
bob
wrote:
>On 3/29/2011 8:39 PM, bob wrote:
>> On Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:03:51 -0400, LSMFT<bol...@aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>> bob wrote:
>>>> Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with
>>>> the intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with
>>>> another method. The bottle sits unused.
>>>>
>>>> Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient,
>>>> since sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl
>>>> cleaner?
>>>
>>> Why not. I use bleach, sometimes Scrub Free. An acid or base will clean
>>> well.
>>
>> although you havent suggested it, mixing sodium hypochlorate (bleach)
>> and H2SO4 can release chlorine gas
>
>
>> AND sulfuric poured into a drain
>> can react EXPLOSIVELY with any METAL PIPES, organic materials (such as
>> hair, etc) and lead to some REAL unpleasant results.
>
>But sulfuric acid is (was?) a common drain cleaner.
yes, but the concentration is diluted and controlled. straight H2SO4
is very destructive
One of its features
>is attacking organic blocks. Would think drain cleaner would have to be
>strong. It was certainly one of the more hazardous household chemicals.
>The OP didn't say, but the sulfuric acid he bought was probably a drain
>cleaner.
some drain cleaners are alkali..sodium hydroxide...and they create
glycerin, which is water soluble. sulfuric can attack all kinds of
things in addition to organics...metals are a favorite
>
>>
>> i'm a chemist and have used sulfuric for 30 years in various
>> applications. this is NOT one of them!
>
>My guess is that toilet bowl tends to get mineral accumulation.
>Hydrochloric acid breaks them down. Does sulfuric
yes, vinegar would be better. it's much weaker but more easily
controlled.
Ashton Crusher
>Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with the
>intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with another
>method. The bottle sits unused.
>
>Many toilet bowl cleaners use hydrochloric acid as a main ingredient, since
>sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl cleaner?
I've used liquid pool acid many times to clean up toilets in rentals
as well as to clean off calcium and soap scum on shower doors and
enclosures. I think it's muratic acid and I don't know how that might
differ from sulfuric or if it's the same stuff by a different name.
bob
wrote:
muriatic acid is another name for hydrochloric acid
Stormin Mormon
fibers to charred black carbon. Don't get it (sulfuric) on
your clothes.
It's different stuff.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Ashton Crusher" <de...@moore.net> wrote in message
news:667ap69nsamcsgue4...@4ax.com...
chrisklinger
>
> Years ago I bought a bottle of sulfuric acid from a hardware store with
the
> intend to open a clogged pipe. I ended up opening the clog with another
> method. The bottle sits unused.
since
> sulfuric acid is similar stuff, can I use it as a toilet bowl cleaner?
for regular cleaning, too. Just be cautious with it: it can ruin your day
if it gets on you. Also, a strong, almost explosive reaction can occur
when it reacts with whatever you pour it on.
http://www.scotchcorp.com/toilet-bowl-restorer.html#faq
--
Col. Edmund Burke
Did ya think of that, little feller?
Ashton Crusher
rentals and the only problem is the fumes. You want to turn the
exhaust fan on and/or open the window for plenty of ventilation. For
normal cleaning the acid based store cleaners seem to work well. The
non-acid ones are a waste of money.