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Question

When a toilet cleaner is acidic then why do they it burn things when we use it for cleaning sanitary wares

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Solution

Toilet cleaner can be either an acid or a base, depending on the components it contains. It is more often a acid than a base, meaning that it measures less than seven on the pH scale,which measures the acidity or basicity of a solution.

Most toilet bowl cleaners are acidic because acids are better for breaking down mineral stains, which are most likely what you are cleaning out of your toilet bowl. Surface cleaners, which you might use on the toilet seat or other parts of your home, tend to be basic so that they can pick up dirt and grease..

A toilet is widely regarded as the dirtiest place in a person’s house, which is why it is very often the one place that is cleaned with the most corrosive agent – acid. While there are more effective and safer options for toilet cleaning, in India acid is still the most common go-to disinfectant, stain remover and cleaning agent, owing to the fact that it is cheap and easily available. Unfortunately, cleaning toilets with acid can cause a number or severe ill-effects. ccording to a new survey conducted by the Indian Medical Academy, 91 percent of doctors link the use of acid as a toilet cleaner to respiratory and other forms of health complications. I It burns things because it is acidic in nature.

The most common acid used is sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and when this acid mixes with water it releases fumes that can be very corrosive. Apart from that, the fumes of sulphuric acid act as a very strong dehydrating and corrosive agent that can affect the inner lining (mucosal lining )of your lungs, nose, pharynx and trachea. In a statement to DNA Dr Jalil Parker, chest physician at Lilavati Hospital, said that these acids used for cleaning toilets and tiles generate fumes that when inhaled interact with the cilia of the nasal mucousa. Apart from damaging the mucous lining of the pharynx and trachea, these fumes are irritants and corrosive in nature, and repetitive inhalation can lead to chemical pneumonia. Additionally, prolonged inhalation can lead to a loss in the sponginess of the lungs, which is an irreversible process and can lead to an ailment called restricted airway disease.


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