Got burned for being stupid

Daniel@R2R · Nov 7, 2019

So I was prepping water for my water change last night, and some of the RODI splashed into my salt bucket (yeah...I wasn't being careful and had the open salt way too close to the water buckets). It wasn't a lot and I wondered if the water had actually landed in the bucket or if I'd barely missed it, so to check, I reached in and touched the salt with my fingers to see if it was wet... Not only was it wet, but it was HOT!

I shoulda thought about it. ;Facepalm The chemical reactions occurring at that moment were bound to heat up the salt that got wet, but I didn't think, and man, it STUNG!! ;Nurse I felt it for the 20 minutes or so at least. Oh well, lesson learned, and a funny (stupid) story to laugh at myself for... ;Eggonface ...and now you guys can all laugh about it too.

Moral of the story: If you get your salt wet, don't touch it for a few minutes...

Bruce60 · Nov 7, 2019

Wow! I hope you are okay. Thanks for sharing-someone may be help by this.

Katrina71 · Nov 7, 2019

You're human. You should see me with glue...sad, very sad.

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 7, 2019

Wow. I wouldn't have thought there'd be enough heat of solution to raise the temperature that significantly. What kind of salt do you use?

Mastiffsrule · Nov 7, 2019

Hi,

I think stupid is a bit strong. I never would have thought about that. And as Bruce said, at least 2 people have already learned this.

But, then again.. HaHa you got burned. You said we could laugh. FYI stay away from Mentos and diet Coke

jda · Nov 7, 2019

Google some of the temps that anhydrous salt gets too when mixed with water.

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 7, 2019

So, the enthalpy of solution for sodium chloride in water is endothermic....meaning that salt in the mix (which is the largest component by mass) didn't cause the issue. It had to be something like calcium chloride that is exothermic when dissolved...either that or the localized pH was really high and you actually had a chemical burn. A high pH burn would actually be worse if there was some localized heating from an exothermic enthalpy of solution. Very interesting...not sure I completely understand what happened.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 7, 2019

AllSignsPointToFish said:
Wow. I wouldn't have thought there'd be enough heat of solution to raise the temperature that significantly. What kind of salt do you use?

Brightwell NeoMarine

Daniel@R2R · Nov 7, 2019

Bruce60 said:
Wow! I hope you are okay. Thanks for sharing-someone may be help by this.

All good thankfully. It stung for about 20 minutes or so, but no lasting impact or anything.

The Aquatic Arsenal · Nov 7, 2019

Now I will probably do the same thing lol

ReeferMaddness843 · Nov 7, 2019

The one rule I was very strictly taught when getting my certified pool operator license: “Always add chemical to water, never add water to chemical”
Seems to hold true in every aspect I see.

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 7, 2019

After looking at the composition, it must be the magnesium chloride that causes the heat of solution. The localized high pH also doesn't help.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 7, 2019

AllSignsPointToFish said:
So, the enthalpy of solution for sodium chloride in water is endothermic....meaning that salt in the mix (which is the largest component by mass) didn't cause the issue. It had to be something like calcium chloride that is exothermic when dissolved...either that or the localized pH was really high and you actually had a chemical burn. A high pH burn would actually be worse if there was some localized heating from an exothermic enthalpy of solution. Very interesting...not sure I completely understand what happened.

Yeah. I'm not much of a chemist. I just figured the chemical reactions of all the components in the reef salt caused the "heat." So, yeah. I'm thinking chemical burn basically bc of all those ions rubbing around. In a bucket of saltwater that's mixing, it's really very diluted, but water hitting the top layer of salt created a much stronger (more localized) reaction...at least that's my guess.

Zos4me · Nov 7, 2019

Tis only a flesh wound ,come here and I'll bite your knee caps off!
Glad your ok I never would have thought about that either

Bryan68 · Nov 7, 2019

Katrina71 said:
You're human. You should see me with glue...sad, very sad.

LOL, that was me that night, more glue on my hands than the rock.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 7, 2019

Zos4me said:
Tis only a flesh wound ,come here and I'll bite your knee caps off!
Glad your ok I never would have thought about that either

AllSignsPointToFish · Nov 7, 2019

Daniel@R2R said:
Yeah. I'm not much of a chemist. I just figured the chemical reactions of all the components in the reef salt caused the "heat." So, yeah. I'm thinking chemical burn basically bc of all those ions rubbing around. In a bucket of saltwater that's mixing, it's really very diluted, but water hitting the top layer of salt created a much stronger (more localized) reaction...at least that's my guess.

I read the technical information on the website. It all but admits that either magnesium chloride or another salt will cause localized discomfort/burns to wet hands.

Dr. Dendrostein · Nov 7, 2019

Daniel@R2R said:
So I was prepping water for my water change last night, and some of the RODI splashed into my salt bucket (yeah...I wasn't being careful and had the open salt way too close to the water buckets). It wasn't a lot and I wondered if the water had actually landed in the bucket or if I'd barely missed it, so to check, I reached in and touched the salt with my fingers to see if it was wet... Not only was it wet, but it was HOT! I shoulda thought about it. ;Facepalm The chemical reactions occurring at that moment were bound to heat up the salt that got wet, but I didn't think, and man, it STUNG!! ;Nurse I felt it for the 20 minutes or so at least. Oh well, lesson learned, and a funny (stupid) story to laugh at myself for... ;Eggonface ...and now you guys can all laugh about it too.

Moral of the story: If you get your salt wet, don't touch it for a few minutes...

Now I can use that in my comedy act, cool.