On 3/29/2011 4:39 PM, Alain wrote:

>> Wanted to get rid of about two cups of muriatic acid, so I dumped it
>> into a bucket with some dried tile grout on the sides. Forgot about the
>> bucket for several months. Just found the bucket and the muriatic acid
>> seems to have been neutralized (forearm test). There are clear, cubic
>> crystals inside. Anyone know what these would be?
>>
>> -Shay
>
> After a little Google search, it seems that it's just another name for
> Chloridric acid. A solution of HCl in water.
>
> After several months, most of the acid will have evaporated or reacted
> with any alcaline substance present. Grout is usualy alcaline.
>
> Those crystals are some salts. It could be identical to common table
> salt (NaCl), or be some other chlorine based salts. Some salts are
> toxic, so I greatly advise you AGAINST tasting those.

Is there *any* chance the crystals might actually be calcite? I got 
pretty excited when I read this post, but if they are just salts, then 
bah. I was hoping the "cubes" were actually rhomboids... I honestly 
didn't expect calcite to grow so quickly, but it sure would be cool :)

~Sam

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