Is it acid to water or water to acid ?

Question

I always get these to mixed up can some one explain it to me so i wont forget ? Can someone also explain the reactions to both ???

Answer 1

To dilute a concentrated acid, you add the acid to the water.

Answer 2

you always want to slowly add acid to water.
When acid (for example, HCl) and water combine, the weak covalent bond between the H and the Cl is broken, absorbing a small amount of energy, since energy is absorbed when bonds break. Think of a bond as kind of a magnetic force. It takes energy to pull the magnets apart. Likewise, energy is released when bonds form (the magnets speed towards each other once close enough). So the H+ and Cl- molecules have been separated, and the "bond" through very strong dipole attraction forces to the polar water. The H+ "bonds" with the negative part of water, the O side, and the Cl- "bonds" with the positive hydrogen ends of the water. This bonding releases a lot of heat.

Answer 3

Do you mean the safe way to dilute a concentrated acid?

If so, it is:

ACID TO WATER!

a little at a time.

Adding water to conc sulphuric, for example, is a highly exothermic reaction. If you add a drop of water to the conc acid, it will boil rapidly on contact and spray acid everywhere.
If you add the conc acid too rapidly, it can cause enough heat to fracture a glass vessel. Dangerous and messy. I speak from experience.

Answer 4

In general, you should add the acid to the water. The reason is that when acids are added to water, heat is generated. By adding a smaller volume of acid to a larger volume of water, the heat will be dissipated into the water more easily.

Answer 5

The safest way is acid to water. Since water is lighter than acid, it tends to splatter when added to acid. Adding acid to water will allow the two liquids to mix with a minimum of spillage.

Answer 6

do as you oughta and add acid to water.


slowly adding acid to water dilutes it gradually cutting back on the reaction. adding water to acid can cause a violent reaction and can splash on you. sulfuric acid is especially nasty. by the time you feel it burn you it's too late and has already burned a hole in you.

Answer 7

Here is the little saying I have heard that helps.

You can add acid to the ocean but you can't add the ocean to acid.

In other words, add acid to water. Be careful, add it slowly, and stir it as you go.