In other words, if a lab protocol calls for 1 percent sodium hypochlorite, use 20 percent bleach. Confusion can arise because what is labeled 100 percent bleach is only three to six percent sodium hypochlorite. Bleach is basically the same as sodium hypochlorite-but not when you calculate dilutions.Those with a chemistry background will tell you that mixing bleach and ammonia can create toxic chloramine gases and an explosive called nitrogen trichloride. Your mother was right when she warned you not to mix bleach and ammonia-based cleansers.His take-home message for those in the lab-if you find an undated bleach solution in a spray bottle, don't use it. If you plan to use a bleach solution over the span of a week for repeated disinfection, Curriden recommends mixing it at a 1:4 ratio (20 percent bleach) to make it last. 10 percent bleach) is potent for about a day (it's more unstable in its diluted form). Bleach mixed with water at a 1:9 ratio (i.e.Even in its original bottle, bleach becomes 20 percent less effective as each year goes by. After a shelf life of six months, bleach starts to degrade. For most uses, a ratio of nine parts water to one part bleach is recommended. Bleach is more effective at killing germs when diluted than when used straight out of the bottle.Here are some facts about bleach that may surprise you: There are, however, some things to keep in mind.' 'It has been around for centuries and can be remarkably effective at killing bacteria and viruses. 'Bleach is the cheapest and most common disinfectant,' says Scott Curriden of The Scripps Research Institute's Environmental Health and Safety Department. You pour some out and it kills germs, right? Well, yes and no. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Bleach But Were Afraid to AskД«leach is so common in the home and in the lab, it's easy to assume that using it is a no-brainer.

Ammonia kills virus