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Author: Subject: Sodium acetate in an aluminum container
charkol3
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[*] posted on 23-6-2011 at 20:08
Sodium acetate in an aluminum container


What the heck did I make? Sorry to do this for a first post.

I had finally gotten around to attempt the famous hot ice trick with sodium acetate. I wanted to do it the long way by trying to make my own sodium acetate from NaOH and viniger. But I didn't get to boiling down the sodium acetate solution.

I transfered the solution into a small thin aluminum baking sheet, it was cheap and available and i had not much pyrex on hand to use, then instantly, the fizzing began. Very enthusiastic fizzing. The sodium acetate solution was eating through the aluminum like a scary movie.

Original equation:
NaOH + CH3CO2 --> H2O + NaOCOCH3

Do the acetate ions prefer the Al(3+) or the Na(1+)

Aluminum acetate comes in 3 different varieties. Tri, di, and mono. The solution was basic, very slippery. What might have happened?
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Panache
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[*] posted on 23-6-2011 at 20:19


lol, Al+OH----->disaster, use a stainless baking tray and only neutralise your vinegar don't basify it.



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simba
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[*] posted on 23-6-2011 at 20:36


In short, the excess of NaOH you added to the mixture is making NaAlO2 out of your container.

[Edited on 24-6-2011 by shivas]
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LanthanumK
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[*] posted on 24-6-2011 at 02:42


and H2 gas.



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AJKOER
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[*] posted on 24-6-2011 at 06:09


Remember Vinegar solution is dilute acetic acid (assume 5%), recalculate required amount of NaOH (assume 100% pure) and put in an excess of vinegar.

With time (days) however, the Al baking sheet may still to dissolve as the solution attacks the protective Al2O3 coat, and permits a reaction between Al and H2O generating H2.
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LanthanumK
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[*] posted on 24-6-2011 at 06:24


Doesn't that reaction happen too slowly to be significant?



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Bot0nist
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[*] posted on 24-6-2011 at 06:42


Why not use sodium bicarbonate? Baking soda is a lot easier to work with than lye.



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charkol3
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[*] posted on 24-6-2011 at 07:59


Quote: Originally posted by LanthanumK  
Doesn't that reaction happen too slowly to be significant?


Not this baking sheet supposedly. The fizzing began immediately, as well as significant heat emission. I used "Hefty EZ Foil Loaf Pans". They are the one time use ones. Within 5 minutes of fizzing, the bottom had melted and the pan material itself was dripping when I picked it up.

And to Bot0nist,
I used lye because i was thinking since NaOH has a higher concentration density of Na. And I had some lye on hand to play with.
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