Mixing household bleach with which kitchen compound produces toxic chlorine gas?

Mixing household bleach with which kitchen compound produces toxic chlorine gas?

• A. Baking soda
• B. Ammonia
• C. Vinegar
• D. Lemon juice

Answer: (C)

Mixing household bleach with an acid releases chlorine gas. The bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with acids to form hypochlorous acid that quickly decomposes to chlorine gas, a toxic airborne irritant. Vinegar provides acetic acid, a common kitchen acid, so mixing it with bleach readily produces chlorine gas. Lemon juice is also acidic, so it could do the same, but vinegar is the classic, widely cited example of this dangerous combination. Baking soda is a base, which would primarily neutralize some of the hypochlorite rather than generate chlorine gas. Ammonia reacts with bleach to form chloramines, which are toxic, but not chlorine gas.

Mixing household bleach with an acid releases chlorine gas. The bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with acids to form hypochlorous acid that quickly decomposes to chlorine gas, a toxic airborne irritant. Vinegar provides acetic acid, a common kitchen acid, so mixing it with bleach readily produces chlorine gas. Lemon juice is also acidic, so it could do the same, but vinegar is the classic, widely cited example of this dangerous combination.

Baking soda is a base, which would primarily neutralize some of the hypochlorite rather than generate chlorine gas. Ammonia reacts with bleach to form chloramines, which are toxic, but not chlorine gas.