Making chlorine

[barquentine]

My final experiment for the 9th grade this morning in the elemental synthesis set involved me making some chlorine (to demonstrate synthesis of NaCl using pure sodium metal; magnesium chloride, etc.)

 

I was too busy to have much time to prepare so, remembering that mixing glass cleaning products (ammonia) with household bleach, I borrowed some bleach from home. Using a dropper funnel and filter flask with a bubbler and some 250mL Ehrlenmeyer flasks to collect it, I began ... and it was pathetic. I ended up using about 100 mL of bleach in the reaction flask and added around 100 mL of 30% ammonia solution. I got a grand total of 1 flask of chlorine, about 250 mL. Doesn't seem like a good method so now I am considering all those dire warnings about mixing household chemicals might be O.T.T.

 

Having only one test flask I set light to the magnesium ribbon and dropped it into the chlorine. Nice bright white-ish yellow-green flame. I am deffo going to have to build a fume cupboard for the lab though ... cough cough

[hermanntrude]

OK first and foremost, if you're gonna mess with chlorine BE EXTREMELY careful. It can make your lungs bleed internally, and you wont even know what's happening for a while.

 

having said that here is a method for making chlorine gas.

 

here is the safety data on chlorine so you know what to do

[YT2095]

and do NOT mix Bleach (chlorox/NaOCl) with Ammonia soln EVER!

the products are wide ranging and all dangerous and rarely make Cl2 gas either.

 

HCl with NaDCCA or TCCA will make your Cl2 very effectively and safely.

[nitric]

you could have easly made cloramine(spelling)

[jdurg]

Bleach and ammonia, when mixed, forms a funky concoction of chlorine gas, chloramine gas, nitrogen trichloride, etc. etc. NOT safe at all.

[cpazchem]

I use Cl2 as my main precursor chemical (usually for making chlorates, gaseous HCl streams and stuff). As such i have a very effiecient and CHEAP way of making it. You will need

1) Adequate ventilation (outside is a must, unless you have a very good fume cupboard)

2) Calcium Hypochlorite pellets or granuals. (i get 70% in "pool chlorine" products, notably "pool shock treatments")

3) 37% Hydrochloric acid (this is the best acid to use because it is cheap)

 

Ok so simply mix the 2 (eventually you will pick up on what amounts you need according to your applications). Most of the Cl2 gas will be liberated within the first 10 secs, in a reaction resembling that of the famous Bicarb/vinegar reaction [with a familiar green tinge of coarse ].

 

Ca(ClO)2 + 4HCl --> CaCl2 + 2H2O + 2Cl2

 

NOTE: Cl2 is a corrosive toxic gas... etc etc, im sure you have read the MSDS... also HCl is corrosive and will fume in moist air (note, although i have breathed these fumes at low concentration with no adverse respiratory effects, my teeth are now happy that i avoid it.) and of coarse Ca(ClO)2 is toxic and corrosive and OXIDISING!! oh, and bleaching, don't wear your good black pants... trust me on that one!