this post was submitted on 09 May 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] fullsquare@awful.systems 40 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

this advice is specifically about sulfuric acid. it's denser than water, so if added to it it will sink diluting itself along the way, while also heating water around and making it float to the surface. if done opposite way, water won't mix immediately because of large density difference so neutralizatio heat will be deposited on surface between these two boiling water and throwing acid around. this matters less with other acids because less heat is deposited, and in some cases acid is less dense than water. but if you stir the acid quickly, you can do it either way as long as you control temperature. this also is the case when you need to mix two different acids

tldr you can do whatever you want as long as you know what are you doing

e: i've checked and heat of dilution is greatest for sulfuric acid, liquid HF is similar per gram, gaseous HCl and HBr are half of that per mol, other common acids 5-10x less esp as aqueous solutions and not neat. also the same happens when diluting acids with other solvents, like alcohols or ethers, these might be even worse because they boil at lower temperature

[–] OldSageRick@lemmy.zip 30 points 3 days ago (3 children)

In german we say "Zuerst das Wasser dann die Säure, sonst geschieht das ungeheuere"

In rough translation "First the water, then the acid, otherwise, the unhoneyed things happens"

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

In Finnish we have "ensin vesi, sitten happo. Muuten tulee sormeen rakko"

Translation: "first water, then acid. Otherwise finger gets a blister"

[–] ranzispa@mander.xyz 2 points 18 hours ago

In Italy "Non dare da bere all'acido"

Do not pour a drink to acid.

[–] Big_Boss_77@fedinsfw.app 13 points 3 days ago (1 children)

In the chem labs I took as a student...the mantra was just "AAA: Always add acid"

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 days ago

Always Be Chemistry

[–] lengau@midwest.social 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I learnt it in English as "do what you oughta, add acid to water."

[–] Ratio_Tile@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Oh I get it, adding water to acid kills the acid, but adding acid to water will put you in the hospital

[–] a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Sort of like magnets, yes. 😞

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

But a glass of water stops magnets.

Indeed. It is science.

[–] lietuva@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

In case anyone want to know why is that. Acid+water = bunch of hydrogen bonds form = heats up and starts to boil. Also most acids are much denser than water, so they sink to the bottom so they spread out and the heat dissipates better. If you put water to acid, it immedialety boils up, it can float on the boiling acid.

[–] _cnt0@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Erst das Wasser, dann die Säure, sonst geschieht das Ungeheure.

[–] philipp_@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 day ago

Erst die Säure, dann das Wasser. Das ist krasser.

[–] salvaria@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"Do as you 'otter'*, add acid to water"

*otter = oughtta = ought to

[–] runner_g@piefed.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 days ago

one less step if you are in Boston.

Do as ya otta, add acid ta watah

[–] hot_mocha_decaf@lemmy.cafe 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

If you add water to acid, you get a bleve. It's exothermic, the water flashes into steam and the acid can spatter from the explosion. I think thats right. I used to mix acid and water all the time. Ammonia and water is highly reactive as well, although NH3 is a gas. Really dangerous stuff.

[–] salvaria@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm not sure if you're using BLEVE right, but I admit I'm not an expert

[–] hot_mocha_decaf@lemmy.cafe 5 points 2 days ago

When water flashes to steam, it expands instantly to 1700 times its liquid volume. A single drop of water will explode when it comes into contact with strong acid, splashing the acid. The acid boils the drop of water instantly, from a liquid it expands as vapor explosively.

[–] Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world 7 points 3 days ago

Put the acid in the wata like you oughta

My 7th grade science teacher

[–] JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago

I learned this playing Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego.