Mixing acids and bases
Name: a w chen
Fifth grader wants to know why acids and bases when mixed
together will explode?
If they are in water (which acids and bases usually are) they won't
explode. When acid and base are mixed, they generate heat but I
don't know of any that will explode. If you want to give a specific
example, I may be able to elaborate...
In most spontaneous chemical reactions some amount of heat is produced.
Another way of saying this is: Reactions occur because the products
are a lower energy (more stable) than the reactants. Then extra
energy is left over in the form of heat in the reaction system.
For acids and bases the products are water and solvated salts. These
products are particularly stable (low energy) and so a lot of heat it
(is) released to the solvent -- water. If the water reaches 100 degrees
Celsius it will boil -- sometimes violently -- making it appear to have
To avoid this problem we usually try to work with dilute acids and bases.
Remember, when diluting strong acids or bases always add the acid (or base)
to water, not the water to the acid or base. Add it slowly and with
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Update: June 2012