A learner has to mix a strong acid with water in a school laboratory. Which order is the safe one?
- Add the acid to the water
- Add the water to the acid
- Add both at the same time
- Add ice to the acid first
Show answer and solution
Correct answer: A. Add the acid to the water
1. Mixing a strong acid with water releases heat, and heat released too quickly can throw the liquid out of the container.
2. The laboratory rule is fixed: never add water to acid, and always add the acid to water.
3. Pouring water onto acid puts a small mass of water onto a large mass of acid, so the heat is released into a tiny volume.
4. Adding both at once, or adding ice first, gives no control at all over how fast that heat appears.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 12 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 1: Skills for science_