kevin.07
Harmless
Posts: 5
Registered: 20-8-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Battery Acid Boil.
A friend recently boiled some battery acid sold as 'battery liquid' in an attempt to concentrate it . It was reduced to approximately 1/3 its original
volume because it was assumed to be 33% .It started badly smoking at this point anyway.
This coffee plunger of concentrate was not needed so it was stored open and days later a large number of crystals were noticed at bottom . What are
these ? H2SO4 solid? Is it possible to have super saturated solution ? Or is it some baddy precipitated out?
|
|
|
kclo4
National Hazard
Posts: 916
Registered: 11-12-2004
Location:
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H2SO4
Read about its chemical and physical properties, do you think it could precipitate out of a water solution?
Also, If you REALLY want help, perhaps you could list the color of the solution, the color of the crystals, the structure, and what it was boiled in?
33% by weight or volume? that I bet would be important!
How hot would you say you got it?
Again, Look at Sulfuric acids physical and chemical properties.
|
|
|
Picric-A
National Hazard
Posts: 796
Registered: 1-5-2008
Location: England
Member Is Offline
Mood: Fuming
|
|
did your friend take it form a battery? I am guessing that it was clear dil. so it would be white crystals? am i right?
It could be varius sulphates, depending on the grade of the H2SO4
|
|
|
kevin.07
Harmless
Posts: 5
Registered: 20-8-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Ok. The acid came as "battery liquid ,Wun Taix chemistry company brand from local auto shop to top up old/ dead batteries.
It was heated in coffee plunger (i doubt boro glass) a.k.a. beaker on hotplate . The temperature was never measured but boiling was observed. The
solution was clear and colourless but after boiling appears clear and slightly pink. The crystals are colourless , long and thin , forming several
sheets.
I have no idea of starting concentration ,only read battery acid is 33%,an assumption.
Yeah h2so4 solid is a stupid guess I suppose seeing as though it is a liquid.
My friends big concern is this mystery acid was used as reagent in mercuric chloride and now wonders what was actually produced.
|
|
|
kevin.07
Harmless
Posts: 5
Registered: 20-8-2008
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
I just checked wun taix chem website . They had two battery acid products, one was 'traditional type electrolyte' and the one my friend has is
'battery liquid + strongly powerful promoter ' . tHIS promoter had no other references but does sound sussworthy. Can'tfind msds.
|
|
|
ScienceSquirrel
International Hazard
Posts: 1863
Registered: 18-6-2008
Location: Brittany
Member Is Offline
Mood: Dogs are pets but cats are little furry humans with four feet and self determination! 
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by kevin.07
Ok. The acid came as "battery liquid ,Wun Taix chemistry company brand from local auto shop to top up old/ dead batteries.
It was heated in coffee plunger (i doubt boro glass) a.k.a. beaker on hotplate . The temperature was never measured but boiling was observed. The
solution was clear and colourless but after boiling appears clear and slightly pink. The crystals are colourless , long and thin , forming several
sheets.
I have no idea of starting concentration ,only read battery acid is 33%,an assumption.
Yeah h2so4 solid is a stupid guess I suppose seeing as though it is a liquid.
My friends big concern is this mystery acid was used as reagent in mercuric chloride and now wonders what was actually produced.
|
I would guess that the crystals are sodium sulphate or bisulphate.
Filter them off, recrystallise from water and take a melting point.
|
|
|
tumadre
Hazard to Others
Posts: 172
Registered: 10-5-2005
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
the crystals are probably EDTA , and other nastyies.
solubility in 36.5% H2SO4 is 3.4g/100mL
EDTA in the acid at manufacture could vary between 0 and 20 grams/liter.
Have you weighed the crystals yet?
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
