Originally Posted by
bonanz
If you neutralize the OA with sodium bicarbonate to form sodium oxalate, this is still poisonous. Where you dump it should be considered with care in case a cat or a dog or a squirrel, etc, might walk through it and lick their paws. The reason that this is toxic is that most mammals use HCl (hydrochloric acid) to help break down and digest food. This is secreted in the stomach to a concentration of about 3% HCl and 97% H2O. That's a respectable concentration of acid. The sodium oxalate will react with the HCl forming oxalic acid and sodium chloride (salt). So you're back where you started with a solution of oxalic acid in the stomach of the critter.
So do be careful in your choice for your future Superfund Site.....
NOTE: "You've all been brainwashed by would-be environmentalists." For your information, I am not primarily an "envirionmentalist." I am a highly trained organic chemist with a heavy dose of toxicology and proper disposal of chemicals. How long were you playing with the Hg (mercury)?
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post10207813
I knew OA and baking soda formed a salt, but I didn't know it was sodium oxalate - which is toxic.
Interestingly,
the MSDS recommends cleaning up residual
sodium oxalate with
water run into the drain after a spill of the (solid) product. (See excerpt below).
Small Spill:
Use appropriate tools to put the spilled solid in a convenient waste disposal container. Finish cleaning by spreading water on the contaminated surface and dispose of according to local and regional authority requirements.
Large Spill:
Use a shovel to put the material into a convenient waste disposal container. Finish cleaning by spreading water on the contaminated surface and allow to evacuate through the sanitary system.