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+ Sodium hydroxide
+ Acids
+ Chemistry
+ Hydrochloric acid
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Martin Roy

What is more harmful: hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide?

Bob Clark  Follow

Both are very much harmful.

But its harmful tendency govern by its concentration.

In concentrated form HCL is more harmful than that of NaOH. That, doest means NaOH is harmless it is also corresive but its extent of harmfulnesss is less.

But in diluted form NaOH is more harmful than acid, because it's corresive even in diluted form.

Happy learning.

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Andrew White  Follow

They are both not toxic at low concentrations but corrosive to human tissue at high concentrations. Hydrochloric acid gives off fumes of HCl which can be a hazard for breathing in. Sodium hydroxide does not, but mechanical action (e.g. taking a stirrer out of a beaker without switching it off) can generate tiny drops which can be inhaled.

Hydrochloric acid will tend to give immediate painful burns which will encourage you to wash it off. Sodium hydroxide just feels soapy and may not seem like an emergency as it is penetrating deep into the flesh. The pain later will be considerable.

If you get significant concentrations into your eyes you must immediately irrigate the eyes with water. It is recommended that you continue irrigating longer for sodium hydroxide because of its deep penetration, 30 minutes. Irrigation is more important than getting to hospital. Start doing it and call for help. Paramedics should continue to irrigate in the ambulance.

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