If I have a mixture of potassium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite, what will be the result of adding citric acid or ascorbic acid? [closed]








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I have a cleaning chemical that is $\pu{10\%}$ potassium hydroxide ($\ce{KOH}$}) and $\pu{5\%}$ sodium hypochlorite ($\ce{NaClO}$). What is the result if I add citric acid ($\ce{C6H8O7}$) or ascorbic acid ($\ce{C6H8O6}$)? My goal is to neutralize the high pH of the potassium hydroxide without creating dangerous byproducts. I do not have a background in chemistry. How do I determine the result of the mass balance equation?


$\ce{KOH + NaClO + C6H8O7 -> ?}$  

$\ce{KOH + NaClO + C6H8O6 -> ?}$




The reason hypochlorites are kept alkaline is to prevent evolution of chlorine gas, $\ce{Cl2}$.


* Any attempt to make the cleaners less alkaline will release poisonous $\ce{Cl2}$, *unless*
* A reactant combines with the chlorine, preventing its evolution... thus making the cleaner useless as a bleach and disinfectant, *or*
* The worst outcome: the reactants eliminate the chlorine, but produce even *more toxic and volatile products*. For example, the reaction of hypochlorites and household (aqueous) ammonia produces hazardous chloramine, or even hydrazine. See [Science ABC](https://www.scienceabc.com/pure-sciences/what-happens-when-you-mix-bleach-and-ammonia.html) for more detail on that reaction.


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