Layton Funk Natalie Lecher Erin Wei

The Deterioration of Fabric Under Hydrochloric Acid Abstract The purpose of this experiment is to investigate and assess the damage done to different types of fabric under a strong acid. Nylon, polyester, rayon, and cotton were tested against 6 M of hydrochloric acid, since those are commonly used fabrics in the production and manufacture of clothes utilized for daily wear and hydrochloric acid is a popular example of a strong acid. The methods used to demonstrate how much corrosion occurred were: measuring the overall mass depleted after the third day, calculating the range in circumference, and noting out additional observations about the burn. The results indicated that 100% polyester absorbed the most HCL whereas nylon absorbed the least and created a glue-like residue. This indicates one should wear polyester if they are working with acids. Introduction Many scientists understand the dangers of hydrochloric acid; it acts as a powerful corrosive agent, eroding away a variety of metals. Amazingly enough, the strong acid is found in the form of gastric acid of the digestive system of many organisms which leads one to wonder: if this chemical can burn through steel but not our stomachs, how would it fare against the fabric that protects our outermost organ, the skin? This could be vital information for the prevention of serious laboratory injuries, and let students know what type of material is best suited for wearing in the lab if one does not have a professional uniform. The experiment could also be applicable for the investigation of chemicals in general, since the hydrochloric acid tested has a fairly low concentration and yet will be sufficient enough to assess the absorption of the chemical into the fabric. This could help in using cleaning agents and understanding which fabric is more vulnerable to stains, or conversely, which fabric is more easily accessible to being cleaned, since diluted hydrochloric acid can be used to clean tough stains (Simhon). The following fabrics chosen for the experiment nylon, rayon, cotton, and polyester are all commonly used and seen in everyday life. Nylon, often used for sportswear, is strong but lightweight, hardly ever absorbs moisture and dries very quickly (Aguirre). Rayon is a soft fabric that easily absorbs liquids (Aguirre). Polyester is known to be very strong and durable and dries quickly, making it hard to clean stains (Aguirre). 100% cotton is very strong and not quite as breathable as the more popular polyester/cotton combination (Aguirre). From this, one can make many assumptions about how dangerous one fabric is over another, but the purpose of the experiment is to confirm or reject such popular thoughts or opinions. Results Raw Quantitative Data

Layton Funk Natalie Lecher Erin Wei Initial Mass (0.01 Final Mass (0.01 g) g) Material Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2 Nylon 0.33 0.09 0.19 0.11 Rayon 0.85 0.89 0.87 0.92 Cotton 1.4 2.4 2.5 2.13 Polyester 0.09 1.1 1.33 1.27

Circumference (0.1 cm) Material Trial 1 Trial 2 Nylon 4.3-4.8 6.6-7.2

Qualitative Data
Observations Material Day 1 Nylon Rayon Cotton Pooled on top Nothing Bubbled Bubbled, turned Polyester red

Day 2 Shredded, large hole Pooling Absorbed Absorbed

Day 3 Shredded, gluey residue remains, petri dish plastic Absorbed Absorbed, still has HCl Absorbed, more HCl left

Calculated Quantitative Data

Material Nylon Rayon Cotton Polyester Average Initial Mass (0.01 g) 0.21 0.87 1.9 0.595 Average Final Mass (0.01 g) 0.15 0.895 2.315 1.3

Mass Difference (0.01 g) Nylon -0.06 Rayon 0.025 Cotton 0.415 Polyester 0.705

Layton Funk Natalie Lecher Erin Wei

Amount of Absorption
1.2 Mass Difference (0.01 g) 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 -0.2 -0.4 1 2 Type of Fabric 3 4 -0.06 0.025 0.415 0.705

1=Nylon 2=Rayon 3=Cotton 4=Polyester

Discussion It was very difficult to cut the nylon into a square, due to the extreme elasticity of the fabric. The shredded edges may have resulted in a less accurate measurement of both the mass and circumference, since the strings lining the edges resulted in uneven shapes and made it hard to fit inside the petri dish. This could have aerated the hydrochloric acid, possibly letting it evaporate and lessening the corrosive effects. The molarity of the acid was also still relatively weak due to dilution with distilled water, and therefore little corrosion was seen. We had overestimated the damage acid would do to fabric; only nylon showed any visible signs of damage, and so we ended up having to just measure the absorption as substitution. Also, acids are famous for their power over metals rather than fabric, and so it can be presumed that there is little to no effect on objects less solid and durable. Hydrochloric acid acts as a cleaning agent when diluted, so it was probably not the best chemical to use in order to determine the absorption, since the light-colored fabric and the clear liquid made it hard to see if there were any lasting stains. However, from this experiment, we did derive that nylon is the most fragile when dealing with dangerous acidic chemicals since it was the only one that burned through. Our method of measuring the circumference of the burn was not applicable to any other fabric aside from nylon,
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Layton Funk Natalie Lecher Erin Wei

but polyester is seen to be the most absorbable, whereas with rayon there was little difference in the mass. This shows that when working in the lab, it is most advisable to wear rayon since it is least likely to absorb chemicals and linger on; however, this can be debatable since there is a possibility that the chemicals seeped through instead, which could possibly harm your skin. Materials and Method 1. Cut out a 12 cm x 12 cm square from each fabric. They must be identically shaped and light-colored. Mark a dot in the center with a sharpie or a marker. 2. Measure out 1 mL of 6 M HCl per sample fabric. Be very cautious; wear safety goggles and gloves, avoid breathing in fumes. Take 1 mL of distilled water, and pour the 2 mL of HCl into the water. Lightly mix the test tube in circular motions. 3. Get the stopwatch ready before taking out the microfiber square and laying it on a strong, steady surface. Slowly pour the 2 mL of hydrochloric acid onto the center of the square, where the dot is. Start the stopwatch upon the first drip, wait three minutes, then assess the damage done. This can be done by measuring the circumference of the damage, mass left, observations, etc. Record in the lab notebook. 4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each fabric. Conduct three trials for each fabric. References
Aguirre, Sarah. "Types of Fabric: A Fabric Glossary." Housekeeping and Organization - Simple Tips and Tutorials to Clean and Organize Your Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. <http://housekeeping.about.com/od/fabricglossary/Glossary_of_Fabric_Types_and_Names.htm> Simhon, Rachel. "Household plc: really filthy bathrooms - Telegraph." Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph - Telegraph. N.p., 13 Sept. 2003. Web. 4 Dec. 2012. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/3317144/Household-plc-really-filthy-bathrooms.html>.