A chemistry question

I recently did an experiment involving sodium hydroxide (lye) and zinc. They react together, realeasing hydrogen. My experiment worked fine, but now I have sodium hydroxide lying on my back porch, with some water mixed in.

I don't know how to clean it up, as it can cause severe burns and blindness. I tried to nuetralize it with hydrocloric acid, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Any ideas on how to nuetralize a powerful base?

Originally posted by clandarkfire
I recently did an experiment involving sodium hydroxide (lye) and zinc. They react together, realeasing hydrogen. My experiment worked fine, but now I have sodium hydroxide lying on my back porch, with some water mixed in.

I don't know how to clean it up, as it can cause severe burns and blindness. I tried to nuetralize it with hydrocloric acid, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Any ideas on how to nuetralize a powerful base?

Just dilute it with water. It has to get weaker that way. Just out of curiosity, why didn't you do the reaction in a container? Like a nice pyrex mixing bowl or something? Is this how you found out hydroxides can be dangerous? If so, it seems to me you should maybe read up on these things and take appropriate safety precautions before you proceed.

Originally posted by clandarkfire
I recently did an experiment involving sodium hydroxide (lye) and zinc. They react together, realeasing hydrogen. My experiment worked fine, but now I have sodium hydroxide lying on my back porch, with some water mixed in.

I don't know how to clean it up, as it can cause severe burns and blindness. I tried to nuetralize it with hydrocloric acid, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Any ideas on how to nuetralize a powerful base?

Have you asked Carl Rove?

Thanks

I did it in a beaker, but it got knocked over as I was cleaning it up. I know this stuff is dangerous, I was just in a bit of a hurry and not as careful as I should have been

Originally posted by clandarkfire
Thanks

I did it in a beaker, but it got knocked over as I was cleaning it up. I know this stuff is dangerous, I was just in a bit of a hurry and not as careful as I should have been

Well you don't see it eating right through the concrete do you? It's not THAT dangerous. Just hose it down. Don't forget, they used to use lye to make soap and it didn't seem to make people disappear, just smell a lot better🙂

Originally posted by Scriabin
Have you asked Carl Rove?

eh? 😕

Originally posted by clandarkfire
eh? 😕

Neutralize a base, get it? Power base, George Bush, et,all....

Ah... That must be what they call sophisticated humor.

Originally posted by clandarkfire
Ah... That must be what they call sophisticated humor.

Humour without anyone laughing? Is that humour?

(Does a falling tree, without anyone hearing it, give sound?)

Originally posted by FabianFnas

(Does a falling tree, without anyone hearing it, give sound?)

Yes.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Yes.

Can you provide evidence for that assertion?

Originally posted by DeepThought
Can you provide evidence for that assertion?

No, it's a philosophical viewpoint.

Originally posted by DeepThought
Can you provide evidence for that assertion?

Yes, leave a tape recorder going.

Originally posted by jman566
Yes, leave a tape recorder going.

I think that proxies count as direct observations so if you leave recording equipment it is as if there is someone there to observe it.