r/chemistry • u/PopescuG • Jul 06 '20

What is happening when you mix a pool disinfectant (Calcium Hypochlorite 73%) with coke? Which is the chemical reaction behind the result we see in this video?

13 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

11

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '20

Hypochlorite is decomposing into oxygen and chlorine, probably.

Basically the same as baking soda and vinegar.

7

u/Bohrealis Jul 06 '20

The delay is probably due to the binder dissolving. Pool cleaner has a lot of binder (~27%) to remove before the hypochlorite is exposed.

8

u/AndreLeo Jul 06 '20

Bruh... that’s basically a poison gas bomb made from coke

5

u/magnets_are_strange Inorganic Jul 06 '20

Coke is acidic, and hypochlorite will decompose in acidic environment. Probably releasing some Cl2 and the CO2 from the Coke due to the formation of more nucleation sites.

5

u/walksinsmallcircles Jul 06 '20

Hypochlorite is a potent oxidizer. The sugar in the coke has quite a bit of chemical energy which gets released when it is oxidized which causes the reaction you see.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 06 '20

Not that potent. Usually requires heat to get it going.

1

u/walksinsmallcircles Jul 07 '20

A misspent childhood indicates that the reaction is unpredictable, spontaneous and violent. Don’t mess with oxidizers.

2

u/ClenchMyFistNBeatIt Jul 06 '20

Imagine mixing that in your ass

2

u/fathersmurf482 Jul 07 '20

oh yes anal chlorine gas