How come when you mix alcohol and chlorine together, it explodes?
2006-07-18 14:20:31 · 4 answers · asked by jhseekings 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
It doesn't explode unless you light it. Alcohol and oxygen would do the same thing, that's why we are thinking of using alcohol as an alternative fuel.
2006-07-18 14:27:41 · answer #1 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe that the reaction of alcohol and chlorine would normally be considered "an explosion"
chlorine is a powerful oxidizer and will react with most compounds that are not fully oxidized
if chlorine and and an organic compound like alcohol were put in a jar, it could cause the pressure in the jar to rise enough to shatter the jar
of course, it would be very difficult to mix chlorine and alcohol without special equipment because chlorine is a gas at room temperature and pressure
if somebody had an accident with an explosion, it probably wasn't with chlorine but with something that contains chlorine, like bleach
the link below contains a description of some chlorine/alcohol reactions
2006-07-18 14:43:36 · answer #2 · answered by enginerd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has never happened to me. I usually drink up all the alcohol first. Too wasted to drink anymore.
2006-07-18 14:25:52 · answer #3 · answered by macssvt....the one and only.... 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chemistry 101
2006-07-18 14:23:12 · answer #4 · answered by kents411 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋