toilet bowl cleansers that contain acid) can generate chlorine gas, and mixing bleach with ammonia generates toxic chloramine vapor. Use common sense and you should be fine. Bleach is composed of sodium hypochlorite, water, and a bit of salt to keep the chlorine gas in its liquid form. In addition to the chlorine, bleach is mostly composed of water and a very small amount of salt, which is necessary to keep chlorine gas … Two common ways to accidentally mix these chemicals include: Mixing cleaning products (generally a bad idea) Using chlorine bleach to disinfect water that contains organic matter (i.e., pond water) Dry chlorine gas won't bleach, but in water it forms hypochlorite, responsible for the bleaching action, and also responsible for its disinfectant action. Mixing bleach and ammonia also produces chlorine gas, which has been used as a chemical weapon. Bleach, however, is typically only 5 to 6 percent chlorine. It is also a reminder that the mixing of bleach with some household cleansers (e.g. The most common compound of chlorine, sodium chloride (common salt), has been known since ancient times. Bleach will corrode metal including metal wastewater pipes. Around 1630, chlorine gas was first synthesised in a chemical reaction, but not recognised as a fundamentally important substance. So if you smell the chlorine gas you should leave the area immediately. Chlorine gas is immediately released just as you are bending over the bowl. There is a chance of mixing bleach with urine during that time. Very severe cases of inhalation of chlorine gas can cause pulmonary edema; if ingested, acute, leading to chronic, poisoning have been noted. WARNING: This reaction produces toxic gas. The gas dissolves in the pure water to create the acid or bleach depending on how strong the solution is. Both chlorine (in any form) and bleach dissolve in water to release a hypochlorite ion. The worst chlorine gas accident in the country occurred in 2005, when 18 freight train cars derailed and released 120,000 pounds of chlorine gas … Chlorine gas is also can happen when you are cleaning the toilet with bleach. Bleach damages surfaces. Chlorine is toxic and highly corrosive. Pool chlorine usually comes in a solid-state like tablets, powder, or granules, but can also come in liquid form as bleach does. EH&S considers this accident to be a near miss; if more bleach had been added, the outcome could have been worse. This usually happens in the toilet or when you are cleaning your pet’s cages. Doing that involves a fair amount of acid. Organic chemicals e.g., Organic solvents and polymers, amines, ethylene glycol, formic acid, insecticides, fuels and fuel oils: Forms chlorine gas, and chlorinated organics which are toxic and/or carcinogenic. Carl Wilhelm Scheele wrote a description of chlorine gas in 1774, supposing it to be an oxide of a new element. 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