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Which of the following will possibly create a dangerous chemical reaction if added to a concentrated acid-etching bath?

• A.Zinc
• B.Borax
• C.Rosin
• D.Water

2 Answers

6 votes

Final answer:

Adding zinc or water to a concentrated acid-etching bath can create a dangerous chemical reaction. Zinc can produce toxic gases like hydrogen or arsine, and adding water to acid can lead to a violent exothermic reaction. • A.Zinc and • D.Water

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering substances to be added to a concentrated acid-etching bath, it is crucial to understand the potential for dangerous chemical reactions. An acid-etching bath typically contains strong acids that can react with various materials to potentially release toxic gases, cause violent reactions, or lead to an explosion. Looking at the choices provided, water, Zinc, Borax, and Rosin, we need to identify which one is the most reactive with strong acids.

Adding zinc to a concentrated acid results in a chemical reaction. For example, when Zinc reacts with hydrochloric acid, hydrogen gas is released in a single-displacement reaction. Moreover, zinc in contact with arsenic acid in acidic solution can produce the highly toxic and unstable gas arsine. Thus, adding zinc to a strong acid is potentially dangerous and should be avoided. In contrast, substances like Borax and Rosin do not produce hazardous reactions when mixed with acids as severe as metal reactions.

Adding water to a concentrated acid can be extremely dangerous due to the exothermic nature of the dilution process. It can cause the acid to splatter and create a highly corrosive aerosol. Always remember to add acid to water, not water to acid, as adding water can lead to a violent exothermic reaction, potentially causing burns and other injuries.

Therefore, the addition of zinc or water to a concentrated acid-etching bath is likely to create a dangerous chemical reaction and should be done with extreme caution or avoided entirely in the interest of safety.

User Stepthom
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3 votes

Final answer:

Adding zinc to a concentrated acid-etching bath could create a dangerous chemical reaction by releasing hydrogen gas, which is flammable. This is due to zinc's reactivity with strong acids. The mention of the correct option in the final part of the response is zinc. So, the correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering which substance could create a dangerous chemical reaction if added to a concentrated acid-etching bath, we must consider the reactivity of the substances with strong acids. Adding substances like zinc, borax, rosin, or water can all have varying effects when contacted with a strong acid.

Zinc is a reactive metal that, when added to a powerful acid such as hydrochloric acid, will undergo a displacement reaction. This reaction releases hydrogen gas, which is flammable. An example of this is the reaction of zinc with hydrochloric acid, forming zinc chloride and hydrogen gas. When discussing safety, adding zinc to an acid bath would indeed create a dangerous situation as it can release toxic gases and potentially lead to an explosion if the gas ignites.

On the other hand, substances like water can also be dangerous when added rapidly to concentrated acids due to the exothermic nature of the dilution process, possibly causing splattering or boiling. However, with careful and slow addition, this dangerous situation can be avoided, which is common practice when diluting acids in a lab setting. In the given options, zinc is the most likely to cause a dangerous chemical reaction when added to a concentrated acid-etching bath due to its reactivity and the potential for releasing hydrogen gas. However, care should always be taken with all other substances mentioned as well due to the various risks involved.

User Nynohu
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