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The Chemistry of Yellowstone's Hot Springs

Added May 11, 2020 •

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In addition to temperature, hot springs may naturally contain chemicals that make its pH dangerously acidic.

Show Transcript

Yellowstone National Park is a popular destination for vacationers and nature lovers but if you don't obey the parks rules and regulations it's possible to end up in off-limits areas where the water is dangerous and even. how can Yellowstone's water kill someone it all starts with the fact that Yellowstone is basically a giant volcano Hot Springs Resort from ancient rain water percolating through the Earth's crust and get superseded by all that geological activity that water can also come into contact with the huge variety of chemicals that like to hang out in volcanoes those chemicals can make hot but also pretty acidic just not the time study published in 2012 by researchers from the US Geological Survey examined why not all of Yellowstone's Hot Springs are like when hot spring water gets hot enough to boil many volcanic gases that contribute to acidity like sulfide in carbon dioxide can also vaporize and separate from the water meaning some volcanic water is when they reach the surface are actually at a neutral to basic pH or at 8 to 10 what is like these crate Yellowstone's famous geysers BSA pools are often less spectacular in nature and more stagnant they actually occur when those volcanic gases meet groundwater the carbon dioxide can dissolve in there and lower the ph and even more fun be sure to atmospheric oxygen as well as heat tolerant microbes can convert the hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid so the crazy hot volcanic gases turn ordinary groundwater and two very hot acidic pools of pure Danger which brings us back to the handful of unfortunate folks who have died in Yellowstone's Waters over the years strong acids and bases can destroy tissues including tough ones like bone and hair for the pH of Yellowstone's acidic Springs only goes down to around 2 which is enough to cause slight Burns at room temperature but not enough to be super super deadly more dangerous than the acid in these Springs is the considerable heat and water temperatures in Yellowstone off and register at 92 degrees Celsius about 2 10 degrees Fahrenheit and most Springs are well over 150 for reference your hot tub should never be set above 104 150 is getting into cooking temperatures it's more than hot enough to be unsafe without the acid Italy makes acid burns worse to some hot springs mixed with cooler ground water to make them safe to swim in on their own and some including boiling River Yellowstone can be mixed with cooler water deliberately for comfortable swim but only in places where that determined to be safe what all this means is that hot springs are a Wellspring of crazy geochemistry and you definitely can't tell just from looking at them which one's the slow-roasted dissolve you alive so swimsmart okay thanks watching and if we sold you on that Yellowstone vacation be sure to subscribe enable notifications and share with whatever friends are going to drag on that road trip with you we'll see you next time

Uploaded by Debra Hood.

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The Chemistry of Yellowstone's Hot Springs

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