Re: Does sodium hydroxide break down over time?
- From: "Herman Family" <the_saw_dust_place_remove_underlines@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:37:34 -0700
"N:dlzc D:aol T:com (dlzc)" <dlzc1@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:6ywzl.176921$xK6.26903@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear Fred:I think that it would be better to add a bit more than 1/4 cup of vinegar if
"Fred" <infinitebramble@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:a3050de0-ea2b-437c-b98e-f3954937d169@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
...
I spilled some sodium hydroxide(lye) in my house
on the floor, and have cleaned it up. I'm concerned
some of it may remain and I realize it is an
extremely toxic chemical, so I am wondering if
sodium hydroxide breaks down over time into less
harmful chemicals (which ones)?
It is hygroscopic, if there is some left, it will form a "greasy spot".
Neutralize with vinegar, it won't break down into anything else, just
combine with anything it comes into contact with as long as enough water
(even from the air) is present..
Is there a way to speed up this break down?
Add vinegar.
And the same goes for sodium hypochlorite(bleach).
Does this break down and how can I make sure it
breaks down faster and into safer chemicals?
There needs something to oxidize too, and bleach usually contains sodium
hydroxide to make it stable. Maybe some vegetable oil added to the
vinegar... others may have better choices.
Ultimately "add plenty of water". I'd do a thorough carpet shampooer /
wet vac job to the carpet, and a 1/4" cup of vinegar added to a tank load
will be more than enough.
David A. Smith
there is any significant amount. Wash the area with a strong vinegar
solution. After a few minutes for the sodium hydroxide to react with the
vinegar, add some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). If you don't see any
foam, you didn't have enough vinegar to neutralize the NaOH. If any area
doesn't foam, then clean that area off again with vinegar until it does not
foam (and hence you don't have any more sodium bicarbonate and you are
dealing just with NaOH), then try the sodium bicarbonate to test for foam
again.
Do not mix the sodium bicarbonate with vinegar before you do the washing.
It will simply neutralize it and make it ineffective.
Michael
.
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