"Frozen" Glacial Acetic Acid

lensmagic · Apr 14, 2008

I keep up to a gallon of Kodak glacial acetic acid stored in the Kodak high density polyethylene container. At low temperatures (40-45 degrees F) the liquid freezes solid. At moderate temperatures (about 65 degrees F) I can pour some liquid from the partially frozen contents. Is the 65 degree liquid more concentrated (lower pH) than the frozen material remaining inside the container?

snallan · Apr 14, 2008

Glacial acetic acid is pure acetic acid, and freezes at around 16.7 degrees centigrade (about 61 F). The liquid you decant off of the solid is the same as the frozen material, so can be used without problems (though it will contain higher levels of trace contaminants than the bulk liquid, the solid has been further purified by crystallisation).

PhotoJim · Apr 14, 2008

Steve has it. Think of water and ice. If a glass of water freezes solid and then melts partially, the liquid is still water. No impurities are introduced in the process.

It's best to store it at or near room temperature (20, 68 in the old reckoning) to avoid freezing, but this is an issue of convenience. I don't think that acetic acid expands when freezing (water is one of the few substances that does), but in case it does, be careful with very full bottles. Or... run some experiments and let us know how they go.

Andrey Donchev · Apr 15, 2008

The acetic acid contract when it freezes and expand when it melts, blowing the cap out of the bottle with quite a force. If you'll go to liquefy it, be sure to do it in vertical position or it will spill out. This is dangerous and the smell will be like in hell (I suppose ). I melt it in a water bath, and after that it stays liquid in my darkroom temperature.

markbau · Sep 10, 2019

I realise this is an ancient thread but this happened to me tonight, a brand new bottle of glacial and it looked frozen, the temp where it was stored was 12C which is in agreement with earlier posters. The only difference was this came in a glass bottle and I've always had black plastic bottles of glacial.

Peter Schrager · Sep 11, 2019

Wonderful why it's called Glacial?

Tor-Einar Jarnbjo · Sep 12, 2019

Peter Schrager said:
Wonderful why it's called Glacial?

Because it freezes at such a relatively high temperature.

foc · Sep 12, 2019

Yes the hint is in the name.
Always use in a well-ventilated area.

Arklatexian · Sep 13, 2019

markbau said:
I realise this is an ancient thread but this happened to me tonight, a brand new bottle of glacial and it looked frozen, the temp where it was stored was 12C which is in agreement with earlier posters. The only difference was this came in a glass bottle and I've always had black plastic bottles of glacial.

What temperature does concentrated Kodak Indicator Stopbath freeze at?.........Regards!

railwayman3 · Sep 13, 2019

Andrey Donchev said:
The acetic acid contract when it freezes and expand when it melts, blowing the cap out of the bottle with quite a force. If you'll go to liquefy it, be sure to do it in vertical position or it will spill out. This is dangerous and the smell will be like in hell (I suppose ). I melt it in a water bath, and after that it stays liquid in my darkroom temperature.

I appreciate that this is an ancient thread, but it's reminded me that, many many years ago, I was given a few bottles of chemicals from a photographer's estate, including a glass one of glacial acetic acid. I put these in an outdoor shed for safety, then forgot about them until after a very cold winter. I found that the acid bottle had not only cracked, but the contents had disappeared completely, and leaving no smell !! Presumably it had frozen, broken the bottle, remelted in the Spring warmth, then drained into the ground...... (I'm much more careful nowadays, almost OCD, with photo chemicals ! )

markbau · Sep 14, 2019

Arklatexian said:
What temperature does concentrated Kodak Indicator Stopbath freeze at?.........Regards!

I am assuming that Indicator stop bath is the same as Kodak SB-1. SB-1 has 1000ml of water/ 50ml 28% acetic acid, to make 28% you mix 130ml of glacial into 340ml of water so SB-1 has so much water compared to glacial that I would assume that it freezes at the same temp as water, maybe a degree or two above.

Arklatexian · Sep 15, 2019

markbau said:
I am assuming that Indicator stop bath is the same as Kodak SB-1. SB-1 has 1000ml of water/ 50ml 28% acetic acid, to make 28% you mix 130ml of glacial into 340ml of water so SB-1 has so much water compared to glacial that I would assume that it freezes at the same temp as water, maybe a degree or two above.

The Indicator Stopbath that I am talking about is almost "glacial" but has the "indicator" added. You must dilute this to make 28% which must be diluted to make a working solution. My question should have been if the indicator added to the acetic acid (which I assume is glacial), would affect it's freezing temperature?........Thank you for your answer. I can use that information also..........Regards!

"Frozen" Glacial Acetic Acid

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency