The other day, I was making a solution of water, 10% sds and 10 M NaOH.

When I addedthe sds to the water first and then the NaOH second, Almost immediately, there was a white precipitation. When I added the NaOH first and then the sds, nothing happened.

Why does this happen one way and not the other, and what is the precipitant?

What is sds? Explaining that may help others in solving your problem

What is sds? Explaining that may help others in solving your problem

 

Standard solution seems the most obvious bet but I can't really think of anything else that fits it

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate may be another possibility, especially if he's into soap making.

It is probably sodium dodecyl sulfate (lauryl sulfate). It is a common surfactant used in biochemistry and molecular biology experiments.

my 1`st guess would have been local heating as the soln conc will be stonger one way than the other (like the acid to water thing).

 

although I would have thought it should eventualy reach an equilibrium over time no matter HOW its mixed.

Yes, sodium dodecyl sulfate is it. Sorry for being unclear.