Rock Testing & Hydrochloric Acid

Roan Art

Roan Art

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Oct 7, 2005
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Okay, so I tested some of my rocks with hydrochloric acid and they are inert.

Now what's the best and safest way to get the hydrochloric acid out of the rocks?

The acid shows dark in the places where it dripped (black pearl soapstone - steatite) and if I let them dry between washing with water, I can see the spots I missed. But how can I be sure I've gotten it all out?

Roan
 
if you want to be really sure, you could soak the rock in a basic solution, like water and baking soda, to make sure that any remaining acid was neutralized... i wouldn't think it would take very long. a couple of hours in a basic solution should do the trick.

make sure there is adaquate venhilation because chlorine gas is toxic. i'm not sure if that would be a threat with this reaction anyway, but better safe than sorry.
 
before making a problem where there might not be one, why not soak the rocks in plain 'ol water in a bucket for half a day, changing the water every couple of hours ... and then take the pH of the water. if there's no difference between your tap pH and the water in the pail, then you've no problem with residual HCl.
 
liv2padl said:
before making a problem where there might not be one, why not soak the rocks in plain 'ol water in a bucket for half a day, changing the water every couple of hours ... and then take the pH of the water. if there's no difference between your tap pH and the water in the pail, then you've no problem with residual HCl.
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Excellent! I really don't know much about hydrochloric acid and had no idea you could test for its presence in water.

I'll do a water soak and test and if that doesn't do it, then I'll try the baking soda and do the test again.

If neither works then I'll be posting again :)

Super thank-yous to both!

Roan
 
I am not sure how much acid you put on the rocks to test them but if you are only talking a couple of drops, rinse the rocks off with water and you should be OK.
 
Puffernewbee said:
I am not sure how much acid you put on the rocks to test them but if you are only talking a couple of drops, rinse the rocks off with water and you should be OK.
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Yes, it was only a couple of drops, and rinsing is not getting it all off. I can see where it soaked in.

I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Roan
 
A couple of drops of hydrochloric acid is not going to affect aquarium water at all unless you have a very small tank. Won't harm the fish either. If it's not enough to affect the pH significantly then it's not enough to harm the fish. It's just an acid. Nothing to worry about.
 
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