MIXING ALCOHOL AND BLEACH - Ordinary household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to produce chloroform (CHCl3), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and other compounds, such as chloroacetone or dichloroacetone. Unintentional mixing of these chemicals could occur from trying to clean up a spill using bleach or from mixing cleaners together. Bleach is highly reactive and forms dangerous compounds when mixed with any number of chemicals.

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Alcohol and Bleach

Why You Should Not Mix Alcohol and Bleach

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Mixing alcohol and bleach is never a good idea, as the combination results in chloroform, a powerful sedative that can cause you to pass out.

You should always be careful when handling these chemicals.

Chemical Reaction

Ordinary household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which reacts with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol to produce chloroform (CHCl₃), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and other compounds, such as chloroacetone or dichloroacetone.

Unintentional mixing of these chemicals could occur from trying to clean up a spill using bleach or from mixing cleaners together.

Bleach is highly reactive and forms dangerous compounds when mixed with any number of chemicals, so it's best to avoid combining it with other products.

Dangers of Chloroform

Chloroform is a dangerous chemical that irritates the eyes, respiratory system, and skin.

It can damage the nervous system, eyes, lungs, skin, liver, kidneys, and other organs and may even cause cancer.

The chemical is readily absorbed into the body through the skin and through inhalation and ingestion.

If you suspect that you have been exposed to chloroform, remove yourself from the contaminated area and seek medical attention.

Chloroform is a potent anesthetic that can knock you out.

It is also the cause of "sudden sniffer's death," a fatal cardiac arrhythmia some people experience upon exposure.

Over time, chloroform in the presence of oxygen (as in air) naturally degrades to produce phosgene, dichloromethane, carbon monoxide, formyl chloride, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen chloride.

Even once the chloroform has broken down, you should avoid these chemicals.

Phosgene, for example, is a notorious chemical agent. It was responsible for around 85 percent of the deaths from chemical weapons during World War I.

Disposing of a Bleach and Alcohol Mixture

If you accidentally mix these chemicals and need to dispose of the waste, don't try to neutralize it.

First, use caution and do not enter the contaminated area if you smell chloroform, which has a heavy, sweet-smelling odor.

Once the smell begins to dissipate, dilute the mixture with large volumes of water and wash it down the drain as quickly as possible.

Acetone and Bleach

Although this is a less common mixture, do not mix acetone and bleach, either, as this reaction also produces chloroform:

3NaClO + C₃H₆O → CHCl₃ + 2NaOH + NaOCOCH₃

Ultimately, mixing bleach with any chemical except water is an extremely bad idea.

Bleach reacts with vinegar, ammonia, and most household cleaners to produce toxic fumes.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

·   Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

·   Science educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

·   ThoughtCo and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.

·   Widely-published graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other illustrations used in science.

Experience

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse scientific literature for the Department of Energy.

In addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor. 

Education

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

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https://www.thoughtco.com/bleach-and-alcohol-make-chloroform-607720