For safety and ease of use, it's recommended to purchase the most dilute acid you can find, but sometimes you need to add more at home.Concentrations of acids can cause serious chemical burns.When calculating the amount of acid and water you need to mix, you'll want to know the M of your acid.
Step 1: You should check what you already have.
You can find the concentration of the acid solution on the label.A "6M" acid contains six moles of acid molecule per liter.We'll call it the beginning concentration.The term will be used in the formula below.We will be adding acid to the water.We don't know what the number is yet, but we will probably not use the entire bottle of acid.
Step 2: Decide on a result.
Depending on the requirements of the laboratory you are working in, the desired concentration and volume of acid can be determined.If we want to suck our acid to a concentration of 2M, we need a small amount.The desired concentration and volume are what we'll call it.If you are using unusual units, make sure to convert them to units of molar concentration.If you don't know what concentration or volume of acid is required, you should consult your teacher, a chemist, or an expert in the task you plan to use acid in.
Step 3: The formula for calculating dilution should be written.
You can use the formula whenever you want.The initial solution's concentration x its volume is what this means.The total amount of acid will remain the same as it is added to the water because of the concentration x volume equation.This formula can be written in our example.
Step 4: The formula for V1 needs to be solved.
V1 will tell us how much of the initial acid solution we need to add to water in order to get the desired concentration and volume.Plug in the numbers you know if you Rearrange the formula as.We would end up with a V1 of 6 liter.This equates to 0.167 liters (0.0 US gal) or 167 liters.
Step 5: How much water will you need?
You can easily calculate how much water you need to make up for the difference now that you know the amount of acid and solution you'll end up with.V1 is the volume of water required.We want to use 0.167 liters of acid and end up with 0.25 liters.The amount of water we need is equivalent to 333 liters.Make sure that your calculations are accurate by double-checking them.
Step 6: You can read the Chemical Safety Cards online.
Safety information is provided in the International Chemical Safety Cards.You can use the online database to find the exact name of the acid you will be using.Additional safety precautions may be needed for some acids.Depending on the concentration and additions to the acid, several cards are issued.Pick the one that is closest to your initial acid solution.If you want to read them in another language, choose one here.
Step 7: Splash goggles, gloves, and a lab coat are required.
Splash safety goggles that cover all sides of the eyes are required when handling acid.Wear gloves and a lab coat to protect your skin and clothing.Before handling acid, tie up long hair.It takes several hours for acid to burn holes.If you don't notice a spill, a few drops can ruin your clothing.
Step 8: Work in a ventilating area.
If possible, keep the acid solution in the fume hood.Exposure to the acid can be corrosive or poisonous.If a hood isn't available, open all windows and doors and turn on a fan.
Step 9: Know where the water is located.
If you get acid on your eyes or skin, you need to flush it with water for 15 to 20 minutes.If you don't know where to find an eye wash station or sink, start the dilution.Keep your eyes open when you wash them.Make sure all sides of your eyeball are clean by rotating your eyes.
Step 10: Specific to acid, have a spill plan ready.
The acid spill kit that contains all the necessary materials can be purchased separately.The process described here can be used for hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric, or phosphoric acid, but other acids may require further research to dispose of properly: Ventilate the area by opening windows and doors, and turning on fume hoods and fans.If you want to avoid spatter, apply a weak base to the spill's outer edges.Continue to work until the spill is covered.Put the plastic tool in the mix.The spill's pH can be checked with litmus paper.If you need to get the pH between 6 and 8, add more base and flush the spill down the drain.
Step 11: Cool water can be used when using concentrated acids.
This step is necessary when handling extremely concentrated acid solutions, such as 18M sulfuric acid or 12M hydrochloric acid.If you want to keep the water cool, keep it in a container with ice for at least 20 minutes.The water can be at room temperature for most dilutions.
Step 12: Add distilled water to a large container.
A volumetric flask is used for projects that involve careful measurement.An Erlenmeyer flask can be used for most purposes.To minimize splashes over the rim, choose a container that can easily contain your total desired volume, with plenty of space remaining.As long as the water came from a container that contained the full amount of water, you don't need to measure it.
Step 13: Add a small amount of acid.
If using a small volume of acid, use a graduated pipette or volumetric pipette with a rubber bulb on top.Slowly pour a small amount of acid from a graduated cylinder into a funnel in the neck of the flask for larger volumes.In a chemistry lab, never use a mouth pipette.
Step 14: Allow the solution to cool off.
Adding strong acids to water may cause a lot of heat.The solution may splatter or produce corrosive fumes if it is highly concentrated.If this happens, you will need to cool the water in an ice bath or perform the entire dilution in very small amounts.
Step 15: The remaining acid can be added in small amounts.
If you notice heat, fumes, or spatter, allow the solution time to cool off.Continue until the required amount of acid has been added.The V1 was used to calculate this amount.
Step 16: Put the solution in a container.
After every addition of acid, you can stir the solution with a glass stirring rod.If the size of the flask makes it impractical, stir the solution after the dilution is complete.
Step 17: The acids should be stored and washed with the tools.
Pour the acid solution you created into a clearly labeled container and store it in a safe location.All traces of acid can be removed by rinsing the flask, funnel, stirring rod, pipette, and/or graduated cylinder.