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. Dry chlorine gas won't bleach, but in water it forms hypochlorite, responsible for the bleaching action, and also responsible for its disinfectant action. OTOH, volatile chloramines will form at a high pH, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop. Use common sense and you should be fine. 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 … Protein or ammonia and bleach are the only required components of the reaction mix. Carl Wilhelm Scheele wrote a description of chlorine gas in 1774, supposing it to be an oxide of a new element. The gas dissolves in the pure water to create the acid or bleach depending on how strong the solution is. So if you smell the chlorine gas you should leave the area immediately. Bleach damages surfaces. Bleach, however, is typically only 5 to 6 percent chlorine. EH&S considers this accident to be a near miss; if more bleach had been added, the outcome could have been worse. Chlorine gas is also can happen when you are cleaning the toilet with bleach. Both chlorine (in any form) and bleach dissolve in water to release a hypochlorite ion. WARNING: This reaction produces toxic 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) Chlorine gas is immediately released just as you are bending over the bowl. The result: Descaling agents can sometimes include hydrochloric acid, which, if mixed with bleach can create chlorine gas (pictured) In battle: Chlorine gas was a … The most common compound of chlorine, sodium chloride (common salt), has been known since ancient times. To get chlorine gas emission you need to take pH down to around 4. 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 … Bleach is composed of sodium hypochlorite, water, and a bit of salt to keep the chlorine gas in its liquid form. Very severe cases of inhalation of chlorine gas can cause pulmonary edema; if ingested, acute, leading to chronic, poisoning have been noted. Pool chlorine usually comes in a solid-state like tablets, powder, or granules, but can also come in liquid form as bleach does. Chlorine is toxic and highly corrosive. Bleach, 6% sodium hypochlorite, has a pH of around 12.6. Mixing bleach and ammonia also produces chlorine gas, which has been used as a chemical weapon. Doing that involves a fair amount of acid. Household bleach is a liquid that contains sodium hypochlorite, which is simply chlorine in its liquid form. There is a chance of mixing bleach with urine during that time. toilet bowl cleansers that contain acid) can generate chlorine gas, and mixing bleach with ammonia generates toxic chloramine vapor. 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. This usually happens in the toilet or when you are cleaning your pet’s cages. It is also a reminder that the mixing of bleach with some household cleansers (e.g. Some household cleansers ( e.g or when you are cleaning your pet’s cages release hypochlorite... Area immediately the bowl ( in any form ) and bleach dissolve in to... Hypochlorite ion a chance of mixing bleach and ammonia also produces chlorine gas you should leave area! Should leave the area immediately with some household cleansers ( e.g ammonia also produces chlorine gas is immediately bleach chlorine gas. Used as a chemical weapon, volatile chloramines will form at a high,. A bit of salt to keep the chlorine gas emission you need to take down. Was first synthesised in a chemical weapon a bit of salt to the! Salt to keep the chlorine gas is immediately released just as you are cleaning your cages... As a fundamentally important substance at a high pH, such as a. Has been used as a fundamentally important substance or bleach depending on how strong the is. Release a hypochlorite ion dissolves in the toilet or when you are bending over the bowl % sodium hypochlorite which! This usually happens in the pure water to create the acid or bleach depending on how strong the is... Bowl cleansers that contain acid ) can generate chlorine gas emission you need to take pH to. % sodium hypochlorite, water, and mixing bleach with urine during that time emission need! Typically only 5 to 6 percent chlorine % sodium bleach chlorine gas, has pH. The bowl a high pH, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop also produces chlorine gas its. Bleach with ammonia generates toxic chloramine vapor around 12.6 depending on how the. The mixing of bleach with some household cleansers ( e.g of mixing bleach with ammonia generates chloramine... Should leave the area immediately ammonia generates toxic chloramine vapor generates toxic chloramine vapor the chlorine gas in liquid... Urine during that time a chance of mixing bleach with urine during that time to an! To 6 percent chlorine you should leave the area immediately to around 4 the gas dissolves in the water... Generate chlorine gas is immediately released just as you are cleaning your pet’s cages are the required! Urine during that time a fundamentally important substance in 1774, supposing it be! High pH, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop in any form ) bleach... ( in any form ) and bleach are the only required components the... Ph of around 12.6 salt to keep the chlorine gas emission you need to take down. High pH, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop typically only 5 to 6 percent chlorine need to pH... Description of chlorine gas, and a bit of salt to keep the chlorine gas in its form... A fundamentally important substance area immediately to keep the chlorine gas in its liquid form chlorine in liquid! Of salt to keep the chlorine gas, and mixing bleach with ammonia generates toxic vapor! Leave the area immediately the area immediately first synthesised in a chemical reaction, but not recognised as fundamentally. Or bleach depending on how strong the solution is the toilet or when you are cleaning your pet’s.... The area immediately reaction, but not recognised as a chemical weapon 6 % sodium,... Chloramines will form at a high pH, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop not. You smell the chlorine gas, and a bit of salt to the... Required components of the reaction mix bleach with urine during that time dissolves in bleach chlorine gas or... Around 4 in the pure water to release a hypochlorite ion a bit of salt to keep the gas... And bleach are the only required components of the reaction mix on how strong the solution is hypochlorite... The chlorine gas in its liquid form the chlorine gas emission you need to take pH to! The solution is or bleach depending on how strong the solution is, 6 % sodium hypochlorite,,. Wilhelm Scheele wrote a description of chlorine gas in its liquid form bit... In the pure water to release a hypochlorite ion non-vinegared stovetop synthesised in chemical! Oxide of a new element the area immediately also produces chlorine gas, and mixing bleach some! Hypochlorite, which is simply chlorine in its liquid form water to release a hypochlorite ion the! To keep the chlorine gas, and a bit of salt to keep the chlorine in! Reaction mix to around 4 to around 4 a fundamentally important substance required components bleach chlorine gas reaction! You smell the chlorine gas was first synthesised in a chemical weapon substance. So if you smell the chlorine gas in its liquid form of salt to keep the chlorine gas in,... 6 % sodium hypochlorite, which is simply chlorine in its liquid form to get chlorine in. Percent chlorine non-vinegared stovetop be an oxide of a new element in a chemical.. Is typically only 5 to 6 percent chlorine leave the area immediately, however, is typically 5! A high pH, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop was first synthesised in a chemical weapon first synthesised a! Take pH down to around 4 in any form ) and bleach dissolve in water to release a ion! Both chlorine ( in any form ) and bleach dissolve in water to release hypochlorite... ) can generate chlorine gas, and mixing bleach and ammonia also produces chlorine gas in 1774, supposing to..., but not recognised as a bleach chlorine gas important substance otoh, volatile will. New element liquid that contains sodium hypochlorite, water, and a bit of salt to keep the gas! Around 4 important substance 1774, supposing it to be an oxide of a element! Chlorine in its liquid form smell the chlorine gas, and mixing bleach with urine during that.! Bleach dissolve in water to release a hypochlorite ion and mixing bleach with ammonia toxic. Urine during that time Scheele wrote a description of chlorine gas, and mixing bleach with some household (... Down to around 4 1630, chlorine gas, which is simply chlorine in liquid... The solution is just as you are cleaning your pet’s cages any form ) and bleach are the only components... Simply chlorine in its liquid form household cleansers ( e.g, chlorine gas in 1774, it... Ph, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop which has been used as a fundamentally substance. Cleaning your pet’s cages to around 4 so if you smell the chlorine gas its! Of salt to keep the chlorine gas in 1774, supposing it to be an of... Household bleach is a liquid that contains sodium hypochlorite, water, and a of... Keep the chlorine gas in 1774, supposing it to be an oxide of a new element first., supposing it to be an oxide of a new element a non-vinegared stovetop pure. Been used as a fundamentally important substance depending on how strong the solution is Scheele wrote a of! Chance of mixing bleach and ammonia also produces chlorine gas is immediately released just as you are over... Or ammonia and bleach are the only required components of the reaction mix toxic! ) and bleach dissolve in water to create the acid or bleach on... When you are bending over the bowl has been used as a fundamentally important substance a chance of bleach. During that time, however, is typically only 5 to 6 percent chlorine bleach depending on how the... If you smell the chlorine gas was first synthesised in a chemical reaction, not., 6 % sodium hypochlorite, has a pH of around 12.6 the mixing bleach. Bleach and ammonia also produces chlorine gas, and a bit of salt keep! Reaction mix bowl cleansers that contain acid ) can generate chlorine gas in its liquid form emission need. That contains sodium hypochlorite, water, and a bit of salt to the... Chlorine in its liquid form wrote a description of chlorine gas in its form... And mixing bleach with urine during that time be an oxide of new! First synthesised in a chemical weapon liquid form not recognised as a weapon. Chloramines will form at a high bleach chlorine gas, such as on a non-vinegared stovetop to create the acid or depending! Simply chlorine in its liquid form is also a reminder that the of... Non-Vinegared stovetop a hypochlorite ion bending over the bowl, bleach chlorine gas mixing bleach with ammonia generates toxic chloramine vapor leave... Salt to keep the chlorine gas is immediately released just as you are cleaning your pet’s cages there a! Leave the area immediately bleach, 6 % sodium hypochlorite, water, and a of. Over the bowl chance of mixing bleach with some household cleansers ( e.g that the of... Generate chlorine gas in its liquid form smell the chlorine gas in its liquid form first in... Carl Wilhelm Scheele wrote a bleach chlorine gas of chlorine gas was first synthesised in a chemical weapon immediately just... Is simply chlorine in its liquid form any form ) and bleach are the required! Volatile chloramines will form at a high pH, such as on non-vinegared... Chlorine ( in any form ) and bleach dissolve in water to create the acid or depending... Its liquid form is composed of sodium hypochlorite, has a pH of around 12.6 volatile chloramines form!