Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: neilep on 06/01/2008 21:55:01

Title: What's The Most Caustic Substance ?...And What Is It Used For ?
Post by: neilep on 06/01/2008 21:55:01

Dear all,

Setting aside my wifeys salmon mousse.....what is the most caustic substance ?..How caustic is it ?.........what is is used for ?....Is it a by-product of something else ie: not directly manufactured......or is it ?



Thanks

Neil
Caustic Substance Enquirer

Title: What's The Most Caustic Substance ?...And What Is It Used For ?
Post by: Bored chemist on 07/01/2008 18:59:25

The unhelpful answer is what do you mean by caustic? Corrosive to metals; to skin; generally?

Title: What's The Most Caustic Substance ?...And What Is It Used For ?
Post by: neilep on 09/01/2008 00:48:41

Quote from: Bored chemist on 07/01/2008 18:59:25

The unhelpful answer is what do you mean by caustic? Corrosive to metals; to skin; generally?

Excellent !...You are of course correct.

How about the most caustic substances in a variety of conditions?

ie: metal, glass, plastic ? skin ?

Title: What's The Most Caustic Substance ?...And What Is It Used For ?
Post by: sciencebase on 09/01/2008 14:23:14

There are lots of caustic compounds around, but the question implies that the most caustic would have some kind of application, if it were a natural product, then there need not necessarily be a use for such a substance.

db

Title: What's The Most Caustic Substance ?...And What Is It Used For ?
Post by: lightarrow on 09/01/2008 19:32:39

Quote from: neilep on 09/01/2008 00:48:41

Quote from: Bored chemist on 07/01/2008 18:59:25

The unhelpful answer is what do you mean by caustic? Corrosive to metals; to skin; generally?

Excellent !...You are of course correct.

How about the most caustic substances in a variety of conditions?

ie: metal, glass, plastic ? skin ?

Too many choiches, try again...  [;)]

Title: What's The Most Caustic Substance ?...And What Is It Used For ?
Post by: lightarrow on 09/01/2008 19:49:13

Ok, I explain better:

Let's consider only metals; i give you only this example:

HCl dissolves aluminum very fast, but doesn't dissolve copper at all;
HNO₃ dissolves copper very fast, but doesn't dissolve aluminum at all...

Which one would you say is more corrosive, then? As you can see from this example only, it's impossible to ask to your question; the reason is that the concept of corrosivity is highly dependent on the substance you want to attack.

If then you also include other materials, like glass or plastic, it's even more...impossible  [:)]

For glass only, the more corrosive I know is HF, fluoridric acid. For plastic, it's highly dependent on the kind of plastic (as for metals). For skin, i know something very corrosive but I would prefer not to write it here. [:-X]