Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Apush Unit 5 Essay Example

Apush Unit 5 Essay Example Apush Unit 5 Paper Apush Unit 5 Paper Essay Topic: The Bean Eaters Uncle Toms Cabin What was the compromise of 1850? The Compromise of 1850 was a series of five bills that were intended to stave off sectional strife. Its goal was to deal with the spread of slavery to territories in order to keep northern and southern interests in balance. What was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850? The passage of this Act along with slaveholding rights in Texas allowed California to enter the union as a free state and prohibited the slave trade in the District of Columbia. a. What was the California Gold Rush? (1848-1859). The Gold Rush was one of the most significant events in California history. It brought people from all over the United States and the world in search for gold. b. Who discovered the Gold? .1848-James Marshall discovers gold at Sutters sawmill c. When did it start to attract people? 1849-Gold Rush starts to attract people from around the world d. When did California become a state? 1850-California becomes a state e. When and why did the Gold Rush end? .1859-Discovery of silver in Nevada ends the California Gold Rush Who was Charles Pickney? He was a politician who signed the U. S. Constitution Who was John Taylor? He took a stance against the extension of slavery along with people such as John Quincy Adams. Who was Mathew Perry? A commodore sent by President Fillmore to Japan, he succeeded in getting Japan to sigh the Treaty of Kanugawa. What was the Election of 1852? Pierce won the presidency against Scott and Hale. It marked the end of the Whig Party. What was the Significance of Uncle Toms Cabin? Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, it helped gain widespread support for the abolitionist cause. It was one of the causes of the civil war, gaining millions of anti-slavery sympathizers worldwide. Who was John C. Calhoun? A senator who championed for the south, he believed the issue of slavery would divide the nation and rejected Clays proposed concessions. He wanted the north to leave slavery alone, return runaway slaves, and restore the political balance between the north and south. What was the Kansas-Nebraska Act? The act was made by Stephen Douglass, it split Nebraska into two territories, Nebraska and Kansas. The status of slavery would now be settle by popular sovereignty. Contradictory to earlier Acts. What was Biblical Defense? The southern defense of slavery by saying that the bible allowed it. Southerners believed that Blacks were the descendants of Canaan, who were cursed to be slaves for all eternity. Therefore, it was supposedly the divine decree of God that gave the black people the liability of being enslaved by white people and justified the degradation of the entire race What was the Mud-Sill Theory? Mudsill theory is a sociological theory which proposes that there must be, and always has been, a lower class for the upper classes to rest upon. The nference being a mudsill, the lowest threshold that supports the foundation for a building. Who was George Fitzhugh? George Fitzhugh was a Virginia lawyer and the author of two books (Sociology for the South and Cannibals All! ) and numerous articles advocating slavery. Who was Stephen Douglas? American politician, leader of the Democratic Party, and orator who espoused the cause of popular sovereignty in relation to the issue of slavery in the territorie s before the American Civil War (1861–65). What was the Know-nothing party? U. S. political party that flourished in the 1850s. The Know-Nothing party was an outgrowth of the strong anti-immigrant and especially anti-Roman Catholic sentiment that started to manifest itself during the 1840s. Who were the Free-soilers? (1848–54), minor but influential political party in the pre-Civil War period of American history that opposed the extension of slavery into the western territories. What is the Ostend Manifesto? communication from three U. S. diplomats to Secretary of State William L. Marcy, advocating U. S. seizure of Cuba from Spain; the incident marked the high point of the U. S. xpansionist drive in the Caribbean in the 1850s. What is Popular Sovereignty? a controversial political doctrine that the people of federal territories should decide for themselves whether their territories would enter the Union as free or slave states. What was the U. S’s foreign policy in central America? The U. S. did not want Brittan to control the atlantic to pacific trade. So they and New Granada, later became know n as Colombia, signed a treaty giving the U. S. the right to transit across the thin area of land in that area. What was the U. S. ’s foreign policy in Cuba? Southerners started eyeing what remained of Spain’s new world empire. They thought since there was a large population of slaves there that it would become a slave state, thus restoring the political balance in congress. What was the forein policy in china? President tyler dispatched caleb cushing to secure camparable concessions for U. S. and they sighned the Treaty of Wanghia with china. What was the foreign policy with japan? The Tokugawa Shogunate was protective of japan and prohibited foreign sailors. Then America pribe japan with technology and they sighned the treaty of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854. Who is william walker? A brazen american adventurer who tried reapeatedly to gain control of central america and instaled himself as president in july 1856 A. Who is charles sumner? A tall and imposing figure, was a leadind abolitionist one of the few in prominent in political life. B. What speach did charles sumner give and why? The crime against kansas. He gave this speech because the turbulent miscarrige of popular sovereignty. Who ran in the elction of 1856 and won? Buchanan ran for president against Fremont and Fillmore and Buchanan won the wo other candidates with 174 electoral votes. What was dred scott v. Sanford? It was a case where scott a black slave was sueing for freedom because he was in free soil but The court ruled Scott a slave and he couldnt sue in federal courts. What was Lecompton Constitution? A tricky document saying people couldnt vote for ir against the constitution as a whole but the costituition with or without slavery. Who was Millard Fillmore? He was an ex -president and was nominated in 1856 to run Know-nothing party. He also dispatched to japan a fleet of war ships. What was the Panic of 1857? The panic of 1857 was a financial panic in the United States caused by the declining international economy and over-expansion of the domestic economy What were the Lincoln-Douglas debates? 1858 Senate Debate, Lincoln forced Douglas to debate issue of slavery, Douglas supported pop-sovereignty, Lincoln asserted that slavery should not spread to territories, Lincoln emerged as strong Republican candidate Who was James Buchanan? James Buchanan was the 15th president and was a popular and experienced state politician and a successful attorney before his presidency Who was John C. Fremont? He was an American military officer,explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. What was The Attack on Harpers Ferry? The Attack on Harpers Ferry was when John Brown and his men attacked the U. S. Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. An arsenal is a place where military weapons are stored. John Brown wanted to seize the arsenal because he thought by stealing weapons he could help free some slaves. He would get slaves and other abolitionists to begin a battle against slave owners. The Raid at Harpers Ferry became one of the causes of the Civil War. What was The Election of 1860? The election of 1860 included the following candidates: Abraham Lincoln John Bell John Breckenrige Stephen DouglasThe election of 1860 was mostly over the controversial issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln won a bitter election Who was John Bell? was a U. S. politician, attorney, and plantation owner. A wealthy slaveholder from Tennessee, Bell served in the United States Congress in both the House of Representatives and Senate. He began his career as a Democrat, he eventually fell out with Andrew Jackson and became a Whig. In 1860, he was among the three presidential candidates defeated by Abraham Lincoln in a bitterly divided election that helped spark the American Civil War. Who was john Breckenridge A Political leader who favored the extension of slavery. His opponents were Douglas and Bell. He polled fewer votes in slave states than the combined strength of his opponents. Showing that because of Uncle toms cabin American was mainly abolitionists. Who was Abraham Lincoln? 16th President of the United States, 16th President of the United States saved the Union during the Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865) ho was the first to secede? south carolina was the first state to secede What was Fort Summter? Federal fort in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina; the confederate attack on the fort marked the start of the Civil War, no deaths What was the confederacy? The confederacy was the name taken by the states that seceded from the union. What is the Crittenden Compromise? It was the final attempt to compromise which proposed to extend the old Missouri Compromise line. North of the line would be free and the south would be a slave area. What is the Morrill Tariff of 1861? It raised the tariff of 5% to 10% which aimed at raising revenue What was the Union? It was the northern states which fought during the civil war against the confederacy What is the Secession of upper south? It was when the southern states withdrew from the union and started the Confederate States of America What was the North’s advantage during the war? The north had a much larger military, they had 7x the manufacturing power then the south, and immigrants preferred to go to the north increasing the population What are â€Å"Fire Eaters†? They were an extreme group of pro-slavery politicians who were from the south and advocated the break away from the union and create a new nation. Who was Jefferson Davis why was he important? Born in 1808, Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. He was unsuccessful in his leadership against the Union largely due to his lack of organization, inability to delegate responsibility, and minor feuds with other statesmen. After the war, he was imprisoned for two years and indicted for treason but never tried. Slave Border States a. Why were there slave border states? Identify their importance during the Civil War. The Lincoln administration regarded border states, critical because of their geographical positions and questionable in loyalty because of their strong ties to both South and North. Slavery existed in the states represented a serious dilemma for President Lincoln. b. What did Lincoln think about the border states? He was convinced that they were the key to victory, he could not afford to alienate them with his emancipation policies, thus incurred the scorn of Radicals by failing to abolish border-state slavery until the 13th Amendment, passed in 1865. . what was happening in the western border states? And in the Western border states Federal troops had to be kept from the front lines to hold the occupied territory from Confederate invaders. d. what else did soldiers do in the slave holding border states? Soldiers also policed the polls to protect loyal Unionists during wartime elections. e. extra stuff †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Though the borde r states remained pro-Union, even severely divided Kentucky and Missouri, the effort to nurture their loyalty in the face of bitter internal struggles weighed heavily on Lincolns overall plan to win the war. . Identify the slave border states Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri F2 Delaware the Civil War tore Delaware apart just as the United States of America as a whole was torn asunder. Delawareans anxiously watched the storm clouds of war grow ever darker throughout the fateful election year of 1860. The war tore apart towns, old friendships, and even families, as Delawareans learned firsthand what a house divided really meant. F3Maryland one of the border states. The first fatalities of the war happened during the Baltimore Riot of 1861, and the single bloodiest day of combat in American military history occurred near Sharpsburg, Maryland, at the Battle of Antietam, which provided the opportunity for President Abraham Lincoln to issue his famed Emancipation Proclamation. The 1864 Battle of Monocacy helped delay a Confederate army bent on striking the Federal capital of Washington, D. C.. F4 Kentucky Kentucky was one of the border states in the Civil War, both geographically and politically, both Civil War presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, were Kentucky native sons. F5 Missouri a border state that sent men, armies, generals, and supplies to both opposing sides, had its star on both flags, had separate governments representing each side, and endured a neighbor-against-neighbor intrastate war within the larger national war. The first major Civil War battle west of the Mississippi River was on August 10, 1861 at Wilsons Creek, Missouri, whereas the largest battle in the war west of the Mississippi River was the Battle of Westport at Kansas City in 1864. F6West Virginia formed out of western Virginia and added to the Union as a direct result of the American Civil War; a target of Confederate raids. These actions focused both on supplying the Confederate Army with provisions as well as attacking the vital Baltimore and Ohio Railroad that linked the northeast with the midwest What happened in East Tennessee? Placed the whole state under martial law when Tennessee was already a militarily over ran by South Confederacy, voters declined themselves for the Unions here. What are South advantages during the Civil War? Outstanding general Strong military traditions Strong motivation They were fighting on home ground Skilled with guns horses Cotton exchange What is it Anaconda Plan? First military strategy offered to President Abraham Lincoln for crushing the rebellion of Southern states was devised by Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott. From April 1 through early May 1861 Scott briefed the president daily, often in person, on the national military situation; the results of these briefings were used by Scott to work out Union military aims What is the 1st Battle of Bull Run? First major land battle of the American Civil War. Known as the First Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas), the engagement began when about 35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D. C. o strike a Confederate force of 20,000 along a small river known as Bull Run. Trent Affair, what is it? Reflected the uneasy state of international relations created by the war. The Confederacy hoped that England or France, even both, would come to its aid. The importance of cotton in the international marketplace was such, southerners argued, that the industrial powers of Europe co uld not long afford to allow the northern navy to enforce its blockade. The Trent affair was settled through diplomatic evasion and maneuvering, but the international situation remained tense throughtout the war Who is Robert E. Lee? Was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War. Who is Irvin Mc Dowell? Was a career American army officer. He is best known for his defeat in the First Battle of Bull Run, the first large-scale battle of the American Civil War a. Who was George McClellan? a major general during the American Civil War. organized the famous Army of the Potomac. served from November 1861 to March 1862 as general-in-chief of Union Army. b. What was McClellan important for? Raised a well-trained and organized army for the Union. McClellans Peninsula Campaign in 1862 failed by attacks by general Robert E Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Battle of Antietam blunted Lees invasion of Maryland but allowed Lee to avoid destruction, despite being outnumbered. Abraham Lincoln, removed him from command, first as general-in-chief, then from the Army of the Potomac soon after. What was David Farragut known for? Aided the capture of new Orleans when sent aboard USS Hartford to command the West Gulf Blockading Squadron in early 1862. Farragut got orders to go against the south’s largest city New Orleans. Farragut ordered to open fire on April 18. On April 25, Farragut anchored off New Orleans and accepted the citys surrender. infantry under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler arrived to occupy the city. a. What was Merrimac and monitor? two American warships that fought the first engagement between ironclad ships in the civil war. Merrimac a Confederate ship and Monitor a Union ship. b. what was Merrimac and Monitor important for? Confeds raised Merrimac commanded by Capt. Franklin Buchanan, sailed forth into Hampton Roads against the wooden ships of the Union. rammed and sank many Union ships. as challenged by the strange-looking Union ironclad Monitor. ships engaged in a four-hour close-range duel, which resulted in a draw. This combat marked a revolution in naval warfare. What was Antietam? pursuing Confederate General Robert E. Lee into Maryland, Union Army Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan launched attacks against Lees army behind Antietam Creek. Attacks and counterattacks swept across Miller s cornfield and fighting swirled around the Dunker Church. Lees invasion of Maryland was ended, and he was able to withdraw his army back to Virginia What was the importance of Emancipation proclamation? September 1862, shortly after the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln issued a preliminary emancipation proclamation. he was dedicated to restoring the Union and not ending slavery entirely. As of January 1, 1863, all slaves were to be freed in those areas still in rebellion. South claimed that they had known all along that Lincoln was an abolitionist. Others feared that the Proclamation would touch off a series of slave rebellions. Who was Ambrose Burnside? -an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U. S. Senator. Also a Union Army general in the Civil War. His distinctive style of facial hair is now known as sideburns, derived from his last name. What was the Conscription Act 1862? -In April the Confederate Congress passed the Conscription Act which drafted white men between eighteen and thirty-five for three years service in the confederate Army. What is Fredericksburg? -The Battle of Fredericksburg, was launched by Burnside to protest people saying he was unfitness for the responisblilty of Commander of the Army of the Potomac. He launched a rash frontal attack on the Confederates, more than ten thousand Northern Soldiers were killed or woundered in the Burnsides Slaughter Pen What was the Homestead Act 1862? -The Homestead Act declared that any citizen or intended citizen could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants must improve the plot with a dwelling and grow crops. After five years, if the original filer was still on the land, it was his property, free and clear. What was Chancellorsville? -Place of battle during the Civil War (May 2-4 1863). victory for the confederacy. one of Lees most brilliant victories. What was the Morril Land Grant 1862? -Law that provided a generous grant of the public lands to the states for support of education. Land Grant colleges most of which became state universities in return bound themeselves to provide things such as military service. What were Copperheads? -Extreme people who were Peace Democrats that didnt want the war. Copperheads openly obstucted the war through attacks against the draft, against linclon, and espicially against the emancipation. What was the enrollment act of 1863? The Union and the Confederacy armies instituted the first federal military draft in American history during the Civil War. he Union resorted to a federal draft in March 1863, President Lincoln signed The Enrollment Act on March 3, 1863, requiring the enrollment of every male citizen and those immigrants who had filed for citizenship between ages twenty and forty-five. Federal agents established a quota of new troops due from each congressional district. What happened at t he battle of Gettysburg? In July of 1863, General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia of 75,000 men and the 97,000 man Union Army of the Potomac, under George G. Meade, concentrated together at Gettysburg and fought the Battle of Gettysburg. Of the more than 2,000 land engagements of the Civil War, Gettysburg ranks supreme. Although the Battle of Gettysburg did not end the war, it was the great battle of the war, marking the point when the ultimate victory of the North over the South became clear to both sides alike. Who was Dorthea Dix? A noted social reformer, Dix became the Unions Superintendent of Female Nurses during the Civil War. A week after the attack on Fort Sumter, Dix, at age 59, volunteered her services to the Union and received the appointment in June 1861 placing her in charge of all women nurses working in army hospitals. Serving in that position without pay through the entire war, Dix quickly molded her vaguely defined duties. Who was clara barton? Launched the American Red Cross in 1881. An angel in the Civil War, she treated the wounded in the field. What happen at the battle of vicksburg? In May and June of 1863, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s armies converged on Vicksburg, investing the city and entrapping a Confederate army under Lt. Gen. John Pemberton. On July 4, Vicksburg surrendered after prolonged siege operations. This was the culmination of one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. With the loss of Pemberton’s army and this vital stronghold on the Mississippi, the Confederacy was effectively split in half. Grants successes in the West boosted his reputation, leading ultimately to his appointment as General-in-Chief of the Union armies. What were the peace democrats? The Democrats were a badly divided political party in the late 1850s, having fallen prey to sectional bickering. They were unable to unify in 1860, a shortcoming that assured the election of Abraham Lincoln. During the course of the Civil War, the Democratic Party in the North comprised two factions one of which was the Peace Democrats What did the Peace democrats believe? Many Democrats within this group hoped that the Union could be salvaged, but felt that military means were not justified. This faction asserted the following: The North was responsible for pushing the South into secession The Republicans were committed to establishing racial equality, a prospect opposed by many working class immigrants who wanted to protect their low-paying jobs and by racists Lincoln had become a tyrant and was bent upon destroying civil liberties The war was a national tragedy and must be ended, even if that meant granting independence to the Confederacy What happen at the battle of chattanooga? a. From the last days of September through October 1863, Gen. Braxton Bragg’s army laid siege to the Union army under Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans at Chattanooga, cutting off its supplies. On October 17, Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant received command of the Western armies; he moved to reinforce Chattanooga and replaced Rosecrans with Maj. Gen. George Thomas. b. A new supply line was soon established. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman arrived with his four divisions in mid-November, and the Federals began offensive operations. On November 23-24, Union forces struck out and captured Orchard Knob and Lookout Mountain. On November 25, Union soldiers assaulted and carried the seemingly impregnable Confederate position on Missionary Ridge. One of the Confederacy’s two major armies was routed. The Federals held Chattanooga, the â€Å"Gateway to the Lower South,† which became the supply and logistics base for Sherman’s 1864 Atlanta Campaign. ^^^^Part of same definition. Its just to long to fit on one so yeah†¦. What effects did the Gettysburg address have on the nation? -it boasted the nation moral and it encouraged the nation to keeping fighting. Who won the election of 1864? Abraham Lincoln won the election. Why was Atlanta important to the south? Atlanta was a major railroad hub. What was Sherman’s march to the sea? It was a march when General Sherman and his 100,000 men went from Atlanta to savannah and he destroyed everything in his path. Who changed in command? -grant was moved to the east Tennessee theater while Sherman was entrusted with Georgia conquest. Why was grant transferred? Grant was moved because he was the victor of Vicksburg and he displayed rare skill and daring. Who was William T Sherman? He was a general in the union army. (melissa) What is the Appomattox Courthouse? Before the Civil War, the railroad bypassed Clover Hill, now known as the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. The confederate army (Robert E. Lee) surrendered to the Union (Ulysses S. Grant). Who was Andrew Johnson? he was the first president to be impeached. opposed punitive measures against the south to the ire of radical republicans. When, How, Where was Lincoln assassinated? Five days after the surrender of the confederacy April 14, 1865(Good Friday), at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D. C. a pro-southerner named James Wilkes Booth slipped behind Lincoln and shot him in the head. hat is the 13th amendment? the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. What was Freedman’s Bureau? An agency created by the government that helped and protected newly freed african americans find jobs, homes, education, and a better life. What is Reconstruction? the time period after the civil war when the south was rebuilding. What was Lincolns Plan? -former confederate states would be readmitted to the union if 10% of their citizens took a loyalty oath and the state agreed to ratify the 13th amendment which outlawed slavery. ot put into effect because lincoln was assassinated. What was the wade-davis bill? in response to Lincolns plan Republicans rammed a bill thorugh congress stating that for a southern state to be readmitted into the Union 50%of its voters had to take an oath of allegiance to the U. S. it also demanded stronger safe-guards for emancipation. What was the congressional-reconstruction? the return of 11 ex-confederates to high offices and the passage of the black codes by southern legislatures angered the republicans in congress so that they adopted a plan that was harsher on southern whites and more protective f freed blacks. What was the Civil Rights Act 1866? passed by congress on 9th april 1866 over the veto of president andrew johnson. the act declared that all persons born in the united states were now citizens, without regard to race, color, or previous condition. What was Johnsons Plan? mirrored lincolns plan but omitted 10% plan, issued proclamation of amnesty but johnson ended up pardoning many former confederates. johnson favored quick reconstruction and wanted former confederate states to return as soon as possible What were Black Codes? Laws or codes passed in the southern states during Reconstruction that greatly limited the freedom of former slaves. What was the Reconstruction proclamation? (Dec. 1863) issued by Lincoln: offered full pardon to Southerners who would take oath of allegiance to the Union and acknowledge emancipation. What is the 14th Amendment? It gave Citizenship for African Americans, Repeal of 3/5 Compromise, Denied former confederate officials from holding national or state office, rejected confederate debts. What was the Urban League? Civil rights group that advocated against racial discrimination. What was the Reconstruction Act? In (1867) act placing Southern states under military rule and barring former supporters of the Confederacy from voting. what is the purchase of alaska? In December, 1866, the U. S. offered to take Alaska from Russia. Russia was eager to give it up, as the fur resources had been exhausted, and, expecting friction with Great Britain, they preferred to see defenseless Alaska in U. S. hands. Called Sewards Folly and Sewards Icebox, the purchase was made in 1867 for $7,200,000 and gave the U. S. Alaskas resources of fish, timber, oil and gold. What is military reconstruction? In response to white efforts to undermine Reconstruction, the federal government established military rule over the former confederate states what are carpetbaggers? northern whites who moved to the south and served as republican leaders during reconstruction What was the klu klux klan? A secret organization that used terrorist tactics in an attempt to restore white supremacy in the South after the Civil War. What was the 15th amendment? Ratified 1870. One of the Reconstruction Amendments. Provided that no government in the United States shall prevent a citizen from voting based on the citizens race, color, or previous condition of servitude What was no women’s vote? when women didn’t have the right to vote What are scalawags? Former slave masters were angered at the sight of former slaves holding office. They lashed out against the freedmen’s white allies. What were the Force Acts? 1870 and 1871. Congress was outraged by the Ku Klux Klan. The acts allowed federal troops to ‘stamp’ them out. What is the Tenure of Office Act? Passed by congress, over-riding Johnson’s veto. The president now had to secure the consent of the senate before he could remove any of his appointees already approved by the senate. Who was Thaddeus Stevens? Persecutor againt Johnson in his court case in the Supreme Court. What happened in 1867 to African Americans? they gained the right to suffrage, Southern black men seized the initiative n began to organize politically. They gained positions in congress and in the house of reps. They were also elected as delegates to the constitutional convention, Who was Hiram Revels? one of the first black senators; took Davis place in the Senate Who was Blanche K. Bruce? African American senator from Mississippi. WHY was Johnson Impeached? Pres. Johnson fired Edwin Stanton so congress impeached him. Compromise of 1877was passed by ? passed by Congress in 1877, set up an electoral commission consisting of 15 men selected from the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Supreme Court. It was made to determine which party would win the election. The committee finally determined, without opening the ballots from the 3 disputed states, that the Republicans had been victorious in the disputed ballots from the three states, giving the Republicans the presidency.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Drain Cleaner Can Dissolve Glass

Drain Cleaner Can Dissolve Glass Just about everyone knows many acids are corrosive. For example, hydrofluoric acid can dissolve glass. Did you know strong bases can be corrosive, too? An example of a base sufficiently corrosive to eat glass is sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which is a common solid drain cleaner. You can test this for yourself by setting a glass container in hot sodium hydroxide, but you need to be extremely careful. Glass Dissolver Sodium hydroxide is perfectly capable of dissolving your skin in addition to glass. Also, it reacts with other chemicals, so you have to be certain you perform this project in a steel or iron container. Test the container with a magnet if you are unsure, because the other metal commonly used in pans, aluminum, reacts vigorously with sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide reacts with the silicon dioxide in glass to form sodium silicate and water: 2NaOH SiO2 → Na2SiO3 H2O Dissolving glass in molten sodium hydroxide probably wont do your pan any favors, so chances are youll want to throw it out when you are done. Neutralize the sodium hydroxide with acid before disposing of the pan or attempting to clean it. If you dont have access to a chemistry lab, this could be achieved with a whole lot of vinegar (weak acetic acid) or a smaller volume of muriatic acid (hydrochloric), or you can wash the sodium hydroxide away with lots and lots of water. You may not be interested in destroying glassware for science, but its still worth knowing why it is important to remove dishes from your sink if you are planning to use solid drain cleaner and why its not a good idea to use more than the recommended amount of the product.