page_title: Drain cleaner
section_title: Acidic drain openers
hierarchical_section_title: Drain cleaner / Chemical drain cleaners / Acidic drain openers
caption_attribution_description: English: An acidic drain opener found in a Hardware store.
context_page_description: A drain cleaner is a chemical product that unblocks sewer pipes or clogged wastewater drains. The term may also refer to a mechanical device such as a plumber's snake, drain auger, toilet plunger, or similar device. Occasionally, the term is applied to a plumber or other individual who performs the drain cleaning and hygiene.
  Chemical drain cleaners, plungers, handheld drain augers, air burst drain cleaners, and home remedy drain cleaners are typically applied to the problem of a clogged single drain, such as a sink, toilet, tub, or shower drain. An effective drain cleaner can remove soft obstructions accumulating near the fixture's drain inlet.
  If more than one plumbing fixture is clogged then electric drain cleaners, battery powered drain cleaners, sewer jetters or such mechanical devices are usually required to clear obstructions along the entire length of the drain piping system, that is, from fixture drain inlets through the main building drains and lateral piping outside the building to the collector sewer mains.
  Each type of drain cleaner has advantages, disadvantages, and safety considerations as described below.
context_section_description: Acidic drain cleaners usually contain sulfuric acid at high concentrations.  It can dissolve cellulose, proteins like hair, and fats via acid hydrolysis.
  According to a manufacturer, potential hazards include violent reaction with water and the production of explosive hydrogen vapors upon contact with most metals; chronic (delayed) and acute (immediate) health hazards if inhaled, ingested, or contacted, including severe eye, flesh and skin burns or even permanent visual loss, inflammation of respiratory membranes, and corrosive burns to all human tissue. It may even be fatal if swallowed. Due to the vigorous reaction between the acid and water, such acidic drain openers should be added slowly into the pipe to be cleaned.
  Acidic drain openers (in very high concentrations) hydrolyze proteins and fats via acid hydrolysis, similar to their alkaline versions mentioned above:
  RCONH₂(amide or proteins) + H₃O⁺ → NH₄⁺  +  RCOOH
  RCO₂R'(ester or fats) + H₂O + H₂SO₄ → RCO₂H + R'OH
  Concentrated sulfuric acid dehydrates substances containing carbohydrates, like tissue paper which consists of cellulose:
  (C
  ₆H
  ₁₀O
  ₅)n +  H
  ₂SO
  ₄ → 6n C + 5n H
  ₂O
caption: Apart from grease and hair, an acidic drain cleaner containing sulfuric acid can be also used to dissolve tissue paper inside water pipes.
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