Ammonium and Clorox: A Major NO NO?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Miles
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the potential dangers of mixing ammonium compounds with Clorox (bleach), exploring the chemical reactions involved, particularly the formation of hydrazine and other byproducts. Participants examine the implications of these reactions in various contexts, including practical jokes and chemical safety.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about the dangers of mixing ammonium and Clorox, questioning the severity of the risks involved.
  • One participant describes a synthesis route for hydrazine that can occur when mixing these substances, noting that hydrazine is toxic and flammable.
  • Another participant seeks clarification on what Clorox is, identifying it as a brand of bleach and discussing its chemical composition.
  • There is a query about the exothermic nature of the reaction and whether it could lead to the vaporization of hydrazine, along with questions about the specific reactants involved in urine.
  • Participants mention various nitrogenous compounds present in urine and the potential for multiple reactions when mixed with hypochlorite, including the formation of chloramines and chlorine.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the severity of the risks associated with mixing ammonium and Clorox, and multiple competing views regarding the chemical reactions and their implications are present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the specific reactions that occur when ammonium compounds are mixed with Clorox, including the role of various nitrogenous wastes in urine and the conditions under which these reactions become hazardous.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals studying chemistry, particularly those focused on chemical safety, reactions involving ammonium and hypochlorite, or the chemistry of nitrogenous compounds.

Miles
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
I heard that mixing ammonium and clorox was a major NO NO. I was just wondering why, and if its really that big of a NO NO.
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
This is a hydrazine synthesis route, the hydrazine coming off as a gas, and hydrazine is toxic and flammable. Supposedly, this is a popular practical joke among janitorial staffs --- pour clorox into urinals, and leave it for the unsuspecting victim to gas himself while "watering the horses." The reaction proceeds equally well with amines as with ammonia.
 
What is the clorox, some kind of cleaning fluid, bleach or ... ?

Formula ?
 
Clorox is a brand name bleach, company's listed on the NYSE, and the word has become synonymous in usage for any hypochlorite bleach; it's available for household use generally as a solution of calcium hypochlorite (Ca(CLO)2).
 
I was reading that hydrazine (N2H4) has a boiling point of 113.5C. And you were saying how these poor bastards taking a piss could gas themselves. Is the reaction highly exothermic, enough so it vaporizes the hydrazine?
What is it reacting with in the piss? Is it some amines or is it ammonia that presumably is decomposed from the urea in piss?
 
can someone help? I've been waiting awhile..
 
--- and methyl hydrazine, and probably chloramines, and chlorine, and ----. Chemistry of the nitrogenous wastes in the urinary tract includes, but is not limited to, various amines, amino acids, plus who knows what all. Hypochlorite is an oxidizing agent --- oxidizer plus a mixture of reduced species equals a variety of reactions. Exothermic? Sure --- search "hydrazine" for the various "kewl bomb" pages, basement chemists, and other Darwin Award candidates.
 
thank you very much.
 

Similar threads

What Causes the Suffix Change in Ammonium Compounds?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
I do not understand oxidizers and what they do
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Mouth heating up after eating biscuits
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Can ammonium nitrate be safely used as a water pigment in dioramas?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Using 18% by weight ammonium hydroxide to make 16ppm aqueous solution
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Acetic Acid + Ammonium Hydroxide Vapours
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Balancing Reaction of Formic Acid and Ammonium Hydroxide
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
8K
Mystery Stain Solved with Fertilizer Chemistry!
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Understanding REDOX: How Do Mn, Fe, and NH4 Oxidize in Water?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
What is the most cost-effective method for making food grade zinc carbonate?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K