Muriatic Acid for Dummies

Mixing muriatic acid into water

As Antisocial Network staffers comb the internet for examples of dumbass freelancing – and in the interest of full disclosure, it does not require a fine-toothed comb to find this rubbish – we often come across the intersection of simple stupidity and common greed. That's why so many people who in reality don't know the difference between a jig saw and a circular saw write instructions for framing roofs or reviews of high-end power tools. Sometimes their sins are worse, however, than mere misinformation: sometimes the content they post is downright dangerous. That's the case with today's example, Jonae Fredericks of eHow, who, using her extensive background in "paraeducation" and cosmetology, attempted to tell readers "How to Use Muriatic Acid."

It's pretty obvious from the onset that Jonae isn't familiar with acids or, for that matter, chemistry in general. No one with the necessary background to instruct people on the use of muriatic acid would be caught dead telling them,

"Often used to clean outdoor pavements, muriatic acid is extremely corrosive and highly caustic. Made of the same chemical elements as hydrochloric acid, muriatic acid must be used with great caution."

We especially liked that "Made of the same chemical elements as hydrochloric acid..." rubbish, since what she really meant is "Muriatic acid is industrial-grade hydrochloric acid." Dumbass. Oh, well, at least she got "use with caution" right!

Fredericks then blathers a bit about the concentration at which muriatic acid should be used and how to mix it (sort of): "Measure one part muriatic acid to 20 parts water in a plastic bucket. This is the safest and most ideal strength for use in cleaning concrete and other outdoor surfaces. This is a general rule of thumb, so always read the package instructions for a varied mixing method." Well, yeah: always read the instructions, Jonae, because the acid is sold in a range of concentrations – something you didn't mention (probably because you didn't understand the concept of concentration). Fredericks goes on to explain, in detail, how to use the acid  – although only for one application out of the hundreds of possibilities. As she does so, she continues to expose her acid illiteracy, saying bullshit like

"Allow the muriatic acid to remain on the concrete for at least 10 minutes... This will allow the chemical compounds to be released into the concrete..."

All of which makes us wonder what "chemical compounds" are "released" and what happens after their "release"... Oh, the bliss of ignorance...

As mentioned above, simple ignorance is the least of Fredericks' sins in this case. Nowhere in her content, including the "Warnings" section, does Jonae tell her readers the most basic safety precaution for using acids. Here, we'll let a real chemist tell you what Jonae didn't learn in cosmetology class:

"A large amount of heat is released when strong acids are mixed with water. Adding more acid releases more heat. If you add water to acid, you form an extremely concentrated solution of acid initially. So much heat is released that the solution may boil very violently, splashing concentrated acid out of the container! If you add acid to water, the solution that forms is very dilute and the small amount of heat released is not enough to vaporize and spatter it. So Always Add Acid to water, and never the reverse."

She's greedy, she's ignorant and she's unsafe at any molarity, molality, or concentration: that's why Jonae Fredericks is hereby awarded yet another Dumbass of the Day for her (lack of) effort.

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