Storage of Conc HCl

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Samantham
Posts: 136
Joined: 06 May 2016, 10:18
State/Location: NSW

Storage of Conc HCl

Post by Samantham »

Hi All,

Had a bit of a fright today. Was about to make up some dilute HCl but when I opened the bottle of concentrated HCl all this gas started erupting from under the lid as soon as I slightly twisted it (as in the lid was still basically on and not screwed all the way off). I fully admit I squeaked and jumped back, and was extradinarily grateful that I was wearing full PPE and doing it in the fume hood, but it was still super scary and there is a gap between my gloves and my lab coat sleeve, and my face isn't covered beyond my safety glasses... I eventually took the whole lid off and it continued to steam scarily so I've left it alone in the fumecupboard.

Anyone know why my bottle of concentrated HCl did this and how to prevent it?
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Labbie
Posts: 3234
Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Retired
Suburb: At Home
State/Location: NSW

Re: Storage of Conc HCl

Post by Labbie »

Was a new one, or used before? It could have been the heat we have had lately? We placed ours on a china dish, bee hive dish think it was called. Has a hole at the bottom of the dish, never had the problem before, after 18 years we are all still learning. So glad you are ok scary and you had your PPE on, not every wears a lab coat. Well done Samantham
Regards Labbie

Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired :wub:
Samantham
Posts: 136
Joined: 06 May 2016, 10:18
State/Location: NSW

Re: Storage of Conc HCl

Post by Samantham »

Old bottle only had about 400 mls left out of 2.5L. We keep ours in acid resistant plastic tubs that can hold 1.5 x the amount of liquids stored in it. Had to fight to get them (inspection year came around at the right time so I got them). My thought was perhaps the heat but its been cool today (we had rain yayayayayayayay). How long would it take for pressure due to heat to calm down?
mtg
Posts: 510
Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 10:48
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: NDSC
Suburb: west gippsland
State/Location: VIC

Re: Storage of Conc HCl

Post by mtg »

Wow! I've never had that happen in the nearly 30 years I've been a lab tech. It sounds unstable and if you have eliminated contamination my guess is also heat. Unless there was a build up of condensation and you had the classic water/acid reaction which would have been a chlorine gas? Good warning to us all though.
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