Answer to Question #84629 in General Chemistry for C occhino

Question

Can exposure to the fumes of bleach or being touched by something that came in to contact with bleach affect face creams, body creams etc

Answer 1

Mixing bleach, or sodium hypochlorite(NaClO) with muriatic acid(HCl) will liberate chlorine gas, which is definitely toxic, and a severe irritant to eyes and nasal passages and the lungs even in small amounts.

The reaction goes as follows:

HCl + NaClO → NaCl + HClO

If there is an excess of HCl this second reaction can occur:

HCl + HClO → H2O +Cl2

With this, the overall reaction is:

2HCl + NaOCl → H2O + NaCl + Cl2

Chlorine Gas Inhalation:

Clinical signs:

Hypoxemia, wheezes, rales, and/or abnormal chest radiographs may be present.

More severely affected individuals may suffer acute lung injury (ALI) and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).