[sdiy] uh-oh..etchant saftey???

[Ray Wilson]

The main nasty ingredient in ferric choloride is hydrochloric acid. It is 
the checmical that gives the solution it's bite. I have breathed ALOT of 
ferric chloride (in solution with water) fumes it over my life (the powder 
will eat your lings, avoid breathing it at all costs) and I'm still here. 
Short exposure to fumes leaking from a spent bottle will probably not do 
permanent (if any) damage. I believe no damage actually.

It is impossible to get the stains off of anything it touches. You can 
neutralize spent ferric choride with a caustic chemical like sodium 
hydroxide (found in many drain cleaning products). It will foam and possibly 
spatter when brought in contact with it. AVOID contact with ferric chloride 
or sodium hydroxide because either of them will eat your skin. They are 
chemical opposites (acid and base). WEAR GOGGLES when goofing with the 
stuff. If you have kids DO NOT KEEP IT ANYWHERE THEY CAN GET THERE LITTLE 
HANDS ON IT.

I am not a chemist just a person that has spent quite a bit of time with 
both chemicals.

Good luck finding the burning plastic smell.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Snazelle" <subjectivity at hotmail.com>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Sunday, March 29, 2009 12:26 AM
Subject: [sdiy] uh-oh..etchant saftey???


>
>
> Ok
>
> first please dont make fun of me for being cautious. i have a toddler and 
> a infant and i dont want anything dangerous in their home.
>
> i hate to be paranoid but in the last few weeks there has been a very 
> strange Plastic like scent in my shop. (which is next to our living room)
> a sort of burnt plastic smell. i have been searching for weeks for the 
> source with no luck.
>
> tonight i went to get out my etchant and something seemed wrong.....the 
> top wouldnt open but was also strangely covered in goo and the bottle 
> looked like something had made it suck in quite a bit
>
> and then i noticed my hand had a chemical
>
> now i have no idea if the 2 are even connected. but i dont like to think 
> that something gaseous could have been  leaking out of this bottle.
> last time i used the bottle, i dumped the etchant back into the bottle, 
> just like i do every time. maybe there is too much copper in there or 
> something?
>
> i feel like an idiot (as usual)
>
> so
>
> 1. could this be the cause of the plastic scent?
> 2. how dangerous is it that i have been working in this room for weeks?
>
>
> thanks
>
>
>
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