Chemistry Forum

Iv been mixing hydrogen chloide with tin foil in a bottel and like a min. later the bottel explodes. and it gives off a like white steam. what is this "steam". and is it flammable. thanks.

TACAMO wrote:Iv been mixing hydrogen chloide with tin foil in a bottel and like a min. later the bottel explodes. and it gives off a like white steam. what is this "steam". and is it flammable. thanks.

Did it exploeded because the bottle was tightly closed or it exploded with the fire?
Most of the "Tin foil" nowadays are made from aluminum
Since the reaction between HCl and Al is strongly exotemic the steam might be just fog of HCl solution. The gas which is created in this reaction (H₂) is flammable.
2Al + 6HCl = 2AlCl₃ + 3H₂
More precisely the complex is formed in this reaction:
2Al + 8HCl + 4H₂O= 2H[AlCl₄(H₂O)₂] + 3H₂

It blew up from the pressure inside. I mean it BBLLEEWW UP!!!!! But there was no flame.