Chemistry Question: Sodium Sulfite & Sodium Carbonate

c6h6o3 · Aug 12, 2011

I have two quart amber glass jars in which I stored my sodium sulfite and sodium carbonate stock solutions for making ABC pyro. I haven't used ABC in about 6 years and never emptied the jars. The solution in one jar is clear. Is that the carbonate? The solution in the other jar is black as pitch. That's the sulfite, right?

BradS · Aug 12, 2011

I'm not entirely sure what you have in solution but, assuming that these are simple water solutions...neither one should be black.

Robert Hall · Aug 12, 2011

I have had these for years and years. I have never seen either turn black.

I wonder if they reacted to something like a jar lid or other contaminate.

c6h6o3 · Aug 12, 2011

Maybe it was the Solution A jar that I didn't empty. So now the question is: do you guys know of a quick and easy way to tell if the clear liquid is sulfite or carbonate?

el wacho · Aug 12, 2011

test the clear solution which appears to be functional.

develop some cachetol with it.

if it is carbonate, you should get an image. if it is sulfite, you won't.

c6h6o3 · Aug 12, 2011

Would Pyrocat HD Solution A work as 'catechol'?

el wacho · Aug 12, 2011

for sure.

BradS · Aug 12, 2011

all this time, I can't help thinking...sulfite and carbonate are both cheap and readily available (here in the US)....why not just dump out what you have and mix up some fresh?

panchro-press · Aug 12, 2011

As cheap as both are, just dump 'em!

-30-

Gerald C Koch · Aug 12, 2011

Dump the contents are thoroughly wash both containers.

Photo Engineer · Aug 12, 2011

I would dump everything, but if you insist on a test, if you add acid to Carbonate it fizzez and if you add acid to Sulfite it stinks.

PE

c6h6o3 · Aug 13, 2011

Photo Engineer said:
I would dump everything, but if you insist on a test, if you add acid to Carbonate it fizzez and if you add acid to Sulfite it stinks.

PE

Thanks, Ron. Am I correct in assuming that the black liquid had to be the A solution? (pyrogallol, sodium bisulfite and KBr. It had about 6 years to oxidize in that half full jar.)

Of course I'm going to dump all the old liquids. But I don't want to put any of the new solutions in a container which contained a different one. I'd get new jars first.

Photo Engineer · Aug 13, 2011

Jim;

If it is black, it is not the Carbonate or the Sulfite. These two chemicals in solution remain clear or water white but cloudy for their entire lives.

PE

mrred · Aug 13, 2011

Why al the fuss? Are the jars worth that much?

c6h6o3 · Aug 13, 2011

mrred said:
Why al the fuss? Are the jars worth that much?

apparently, because I can't find any for sale

c6h6o3 · Aug 13, 2011

I take it back.

Chemistry Question: Sodium Sulfite & Sodium Carbonate

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency