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jefffoxsr's avatar
jefffoxsr
Explorer
Jul 13, 2013

Mustard Gas hazard?

There was a mention that the mixture of bleach and ammonia creates mustard gas so that one should be careful not to get bleach into the black water tank because urine breaks down to ammonia and if bleach is introduced then the result is mustard gas.

Is this something that RV owners really need to worry about based on the minute amount of bleach that gets into the black tank from toilet use based on the owner putting a few ounces of bleach into their 50 gallon fresh water tank to keep the RV water system sanitary?

All you chemists, thank you for your insight and experience.
Seeking Advice
  • PapPappy's avatar
    PapPappy
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2013
    And, as O.B. mentioned above, it's about concentrations....and while your urine will have some ammonia, it's so diluted, that it won't do anything....Remember, it's probably about 90% water.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jul 13, 2013
    Are you peeing and then pouring bleach as a chaser?

    You are not mixing straight ammonia and bleach.......a little bleach mixing with the water and urine (miniscule ammonia) is not going to create a cloud of mustard gas.
  • down_home's avatar
    down_home
    Explorer II
    Jul 13, 2013
    When we were first married, we rented an apartment. Nice place but the kitchen sink had a bad stain.
    I used comet or something and then had the bright idea to pour some bleach into the sink too.
    I' not sure how close to dying I came but I choked and so on and was out of it for the rest of the day.

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