> 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

No, calcite's basic formula is CaCO3 (calcium carbonate), while your 
cristals could be CaCl2 or some other nClx salts.



Alain

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