Comments on: Nitric Acid Spill In Cantonment

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:41:44 +0000

REGARDING:
“How come nitric acid should be added to water rather than the reverse?”

When it’s already on the ground, it’s too late to start with water.

David the aged

By: Pineville PI

Pineville PI — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:59:07 +0000

CHICHI: I agree with you,I worked with Nitric for 23 years and Mr. Green must be 300 years old to have collected all the knowledge he has. One can’t be that smart in a normal lifetime.

By: WRM

WRM — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:29:05 +0000

Idiots. It looks like HAZMAT training is not one of their strong points-- How come nitric acid should be added to water rather than the reverse? The reaction between nitric acid and water is a reaction that produces heat known as the "heat of dilution." The exothermic reaction that occurs when water is added to nitric acid can create a dangerous situation. This vigorous reaction is often masked by reversing the mixing procedures and adding nitric acid slowly to water. This will allow for the water to dissipate most of the heat produced. http://www.northstarchemical.com/prod_nitricacid_prof.htm

By: chichi

chichi — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:19:13 +0000

as a former chemical oper. one of my jobs was loading nitric acid it will burn you it will take your breath away it forms a yellow cloud we used limestone in the pits that were at the loading area to neturalize it before pumping it to the disposial ponds it should be respected i was also in the fire dept and i dont remember anything about what mr green said also i dont recall reading that in the M S D S manual but we all know mr green is an expert on so many things

By: safebear

safebear — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 04:24:46 +0000

When you all go to HAZWOPER Training and learn about this stuff, then you can start commenting. You use worse stuff in your swimming pools sometimes. Yes – Nitric acid is bad stuff. You get it on you and you burn just like any other acid. Otherwise, it is will burn with other combustible materials but you need something to set it on fire. It will not catch fire on it’s own.It is also not pyrophoric as some comments would lead you to believe. It does react violently with metal dusts but if there was any of that around the headline would not have read “leak” it would have read “explosion”.

Don’t panic!

By: Jane

Jane — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 02:04:05 +0000

Oh dear. Now you’ve told all the firebugs out there!

By: David Huie Green

David Huie Green — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:47:28 +0000

REGARDING:
“The dead grass may fuel a fire but will not combust because of the Nitric Acid.”

Nitric acid, when combined with wood fibers produces a lightweight combustible explosive material. (Wood fibers and grass aren’t all that different.) The same thing happens if you treat paper and cardboard in the same way. These substances are highly unstable explosives. Doing it with cotton, a purer form of cellulose, makes gun cotton, but even that can explode as soon as it dries if you aren‘t careful.

Or so they say.

David thinking mowers may still see interesting times

By: Ally

Ally — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:11:48 +0000

Poor Mother Earth….no wonder she’s angry.

By: jane

jane — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:00:04 +0000

And the water runs off where? Into the water table people! There is so much nitric acid in the ground water in some parts of the country that you can not drink tap water. Don’t put this off as “just a minor spill” ! Right now is the time to control spills and save your water table from contamination! Nitric acid can be neutralized and should have been…not just diluted!

By: ldk

ldk — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:01:22 +0000

it also has a gasses state if it comes in contact with shell or some rock with a lime base wonder if any body check the ph after diluting