Apparatus: Glass container (preferably beaker, not too thin as it may crack under heating), a free frying pan or wok which your family has discarded but can still be used (very important), towel or rubber gloves (very important), measuring cylinder (optional), stopwatch or anything that keeps the time (also optional), tight-sealed container that is not made from organic material or metal (preferably glass)
Chemicals: Dilute HCl. The HCl does not necessarily require to be in its pure form. i.e it can be contaminated. The easiest way to get HCl is to buy it from your neighbourhood convenient store. Go to the toilet cleaner section, and search for a toilet cleaner that specifies the ingredient to be: hydrochloric acid, water, anti greasing agent, etc. Most importantly, you must ensure that the toilet cleaner is a colourless (to yellowish) SOLUTION, not a gel. This is because colourless solution ensures that there is as little contaminant as possible (gel suggests plenty more organic contaminants), so that when you do the DIY you won't get other gases.
Procedures:
1. Half-fill a glass container with the toilet cleaner containing hydrochloric acid.
2. Put a discarded frying pan / wok on the stove.
3. Put the glass container onto the center of the frying pan / wok.
4. Turn on the stove and adjust the fire to medium.
5. Heat the liquid for around 10 - 15 minutes. The liquid may start to turn murky by then. This is due to decomposition of impurities found in the liquid, don't need to worry. If the liquid bubbles and spits threateningly, adjust the flame so that the heating is reduced.
6. By around 10 - 15 minutes (depending on the original concentration of acid actually), white fumes can be observed emerging from the liquid. (The fumes may emerge very quickly so look sharp) This fume is hydrogen chloride and steam, showing that the concentration of the hydrochloric acid in the container is so high that not all hydrogen chloride can remain dissolved in it, thus causing it to emerge as a gas.
7. When the fumes are more visible, turn off the flame and wait for the liquid to stop bubbling.
8. Use the towel or with your rubber gloves, quickly transfer the liquid into a tight-sealed container. This is to ensure the concentrated hydrochloric acid does not absorb water from the air to become dilute again. (more probable when it is contaminated) Be careful not to breath in (too much of) the white fumes because it is rather toxic. Low concentration won't kill, but it irritates your nose.
9. Cap the tight-sealed container and let the solution cool to room temperate. Alternatively you can immediately put the container in the fridge.
10. Tah-dah, you have made concentrated HCl. Wash all apparatus used with detergent. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap (best to just take a bath)
Cautions: DON'T let it get onto your hand, concentrated HCl will burn your skin. Although it is not likely for immediate effect to take place, but exposure of more than 5 minutes is dangerous (i tried 10 seconds and it already starts to hurt) DON'T drip any of the acid anywhere. When there is a spill, or when it gets onto your hand, wash with soap and rinse thoroughly under running water.
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