Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

name         Dr Tomas M.
status       educator
age          40s

Question -   Can I mix chlorine dioxide with Spearmint oil and cinnamon oil?
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Tomas,

Sure you can.  You may also mix fuming nitric acid with NaOH pellets with a dash of water.  
But I doubt you would like the results.

But in all seriousness, I believe ClO2 is used as a commercial grade disinfectant and is 
considered to be superior to Cl2 since it DOES NOT create any chlorinated organics (ie ... 
reduced risk of cancer in treating drinking water).  Also, I believe I once read that ClO2 
can be quite effective (for disinfection purposes) at 0.1 ppm or so.  In bleaching 
applications my guess is that the dosage might need to be a little higher.  My apologies, 
but I would be lying to you if told you for certain any LD50 quantities for ClO2.  I am sure 

an online MSDS (lease consult the MSDS: http://www.ilpi.com/msds/index.html http://msds.pdc.
cornell.edu/msdssrch.asp

https://www.cms.anl.gov ) for the material would have that information.

Darin Wagner
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SAFETY WARNING: Chlorine dioxide is a nasty, toxic, powerful oxidant. It is unstable in light. 
Vapor concentrations greater than 10% in air can detonate spontaneously. It reacts EXPLOSIVELY 
with organic matter. I can see no reason for mixing ClO2 with these oils, or any organic 
material, without a compelling reason.
The fact that you asked the question suggests to me that you are not aware of the hazardous 
nature of ClO2.

THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO!! DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS REACTION.
	
Vince Calder
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