Thread: Chlorine and Ethanol

I wanted to ask whether in water which contains chlorine and alcohol, chlorine would remove all traces of alcohol in a container such as a test tube and mixed together.


Would I be able to test for alcohol traces in say my swimming trunks if I got out of a swimming pool that had alcohol spilled on to it from guest in a hotel?


It's a weird question, I know but it just came up in mind and I seem not to be able to figure out a concrete answer

1oz alcohol to 10000+ gal of water--- bullshit

Originally Posted by PhDemon

True, I misread the question. I read it as spilling alcohol onto trunks saturated with pool water and my answer was intended to say the chlorine in the water will have no effect on the alcohol.

As you so eloquently put it though a small amount of alcohol spilled into a whole pool would be below detection limits...

Is there a known maximum amount of pool water that would make testing for a 1.0 oz alcohol spill untestable? How about a 300 gallon spa? I used to have a spa, and I know alcohol got spilled into it.

Seems to me, from past excursions into the chemical unknown, that chlorine and ethanol are used to make Chloral Hydrate, a potent sedative and sleep-inducer, widely used years ago. Addiction to Chloral Hydrate was even given a name: "Chlorosis". joc

Originally Posted by PhDemon

The reaction of chlorine with ethanol is via the haloform reaction:

Haloform reaction - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For this to occur, basic conditions are needed.

From: HowStuffWorks "Pool pH Levels"

"Most pool experts recommend a pool pH between 7.2 and 7.8."

This is pretty much neutral and not basic enough for the haloform mechanism to be efficient unless a base (such as NaOH)is added, so in a water sample containing chlorine and alcohol at this pH there should be little (or no) reaction and you can test for the alcohol as usual.

For reason unknown to me, the presence of dissolved chlorine in pool water always causes the Ph to slowly rise, as a result of some part of the mechanism by which chlorine kills bacteria present in the water. This effect seems compounded in arid areas where the make-up water added as needs arise contains the typical alkaline dissolved minerals found in desert areas. jocular

would the chlorine level be different if it is a saline pool?

just asking...

Originally Posted by PhDemon

It's a long time since I did organic chemistry but I'll have ago!

When chlorine dissociates in water, there is an equilibrium between chlorine and hydrochloric acid and hypochlorous acid:

Cl₂ + H₂O <----> HCl + HClO

In water the hydrochloric acid will dissociate into H⁺ and Cl^-. If you add salt (which contains Cl^-) by Le Chateliers principle the equilibrium would be expected to shift to the left giving more chlorine. The amount of extra chlorine will depend on hte equilibrium constant for this reaction (I can't be bothered to look it up but I'm guessing the effect isn't large - I could be wrong).

As far as I know the only way to get a lot of Cl₂ from Cl^- (the chloride in sodium chloride/saline) is by electrolysis.

OK....read this three times....I guess this is about as layman as you get? *chuckle* I think I get the general premise!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question....Mr. PHDEMON

just go wash your shorts

Originally Posted by fizzlooney

just go wash your shorts

define "shorts" please!

Mahalo!

Originally Posted by babe

Originally Posted by fizzlooney

just go wash your shorts

define "shorts" please!

Mahalo!

Short "takes", short time, short circuit, short temper, short fuse, short while, short sale, short shorts. The last being the BEST! Cool short= nice car! joc

Originally Posted by jocular

Originally Posted by babe

Originally Posted by fizzlooney

just go wash your shorts

define "shorts" please!

Mahalo!

Short "takes", short time, short circuit, short temper, short fuse, short while, short sale, short shorts. The last being the BEST! Cool short= nice car! joc

ya forgot BOXER SHORTS!!!

OK...talk to me like im 8. So what would happen in I poured myself a Clorox and Everclear? Not for drinking, of course.

So...if I drank it...if I shit myself, I'd actually be cleaning my drawers instead of soiling them?

Originally Posted by PhDemon

I wouldn't try it, you'd probably throw it up before it got to the other end anyway :P . Chlorine is nasty stuff! Gassed myself (mildly) as a masters student. Not nice...

Chlorine if memory serves, is a powerful lachrymator (what a word, no idea why it popped into mind), is one of the gases used in WW-I, I believe. Besides causing extreme discomfort initially, it can quickly disable and kill. Hell with the tears! joc

Originally Posted by PhDemon

All true, I only got a very slight exposure but my eyes and nose were running and I was coughing a lot for a few days...

Clean a bathroom with straight bleach and no ventilation and you will be sick as a dog, even if you are being careful not to put too much anywhere....it is strong stuff!

Originally Posted by PhDemon

Yeah, I got a hit of the pure gas when a glass vacuum line I was using to mix it with other gases decided to implode, it was a lot worse than anything I've seen using bleach...

did you have a mask or anything on?

Originally Posted by PhDemon

No, the amounts were very small (0.5 L at ~10 Torr) and didn't think I needed it, the chlorine was inside the vac line and I was outside! I know better now! Luckily I was wearing my safety glasses though as when the vac line went *bang* there was glass everywhere, this was ~15 years ago and I still have a small scar on my hand from some of the shrapnel...

Thank goddess you are ok!! Atmosphere to Bethany!

Originally Posted by PhDemon

It was a long time ago -- I've had many other "incidents" since then...

don't tell me...I'm like a bleeding heart lady and I'd probably try to help you get better *L*...spousy (my nickname for my husband) says I am TOO nice.....I don't put up with bullshit, at all, from anyone but I am such a soft heart sometimes.....but then again, don't think I will ever get that "edge" ....then again...I am no mouse!! *L*..Piss me off and you'll find out all about red hair characteristics !! *L* personified.

Originally Posted by PhDemon

Don't worry anything really dangerous we get the students to do. It's a crude form of natural selection and if the worst happens they're cheap to replace and not much education is lost.

Piss me off and you'll find out all about red hair characteristics !! *L* personified.

That's a shame, winding up gingers is a bit of a hobby of mine

Brat.