Clear Gel / Goo Resulted from Cleaning Coffee Maker!

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dan@nospam.com - 21 Jul 2008 17:59 GMT

Poured vinegar into our Krups coffee maker to clean and a clear gel
formed on the top of the strainer with a puff of steam. The coffee maker
was just turned off when the vinegar was poured in and it was of the
white distilled type (Heinz) and not diluted at all. Any idea what could
have caused this reaction? The water supply we use is filtered through
reverse osmosis from the Milwaukee, WI Water supply.

TIA

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jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 21 Jul 2008 19:05 GMT

> Poured vinegar into our Krups coffee maker to clean and a clear gel
> formed on the top of the strainer with a puff of steam. The coffee maker
> was just turned off when the vinegar was poured in and it was of the
> white distilled type (Heinz) and not diluted at all. Any idea what could
> have caused this reaction? The water supply we use is filtered through
> reverse osmosis from the Milwaukee, WI Water supply.

While there are chemists hanging out in the physics group, one would
expect better response by posting a chemistry question in a chemistry
group.

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Jim Pennino

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tadchem - 21 Jul 2008 21:49 GMT

On Jul 21, 12:59 pm, d...@nospam.com wrote:

> Poured vinegar into our Krups coffee maker to clean and a clear gel
> formed on the top of the strainer with a puff of steam. The coffee maker
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> TIA

If the pH is in the right range (I haven't got the numbers in front of
me), ferric iron can form a brown gel.

A little iron oxide (Fe2O3) and a little acid (vinegar) might do it:

Fe2O3 + H2O -(acid catalysis)-> 2 FeO(OH)

http://www.cicap.org/new/articolo.php?id=101014

Tom Davidson
Richmond. VA

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Natural Science Forum / Physics / General Physics / July 2008

Clear Gel / Goo Resulted from Cleaning Coffee Maker!