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I would like to find different types of corrosive acids

Dear mr ask, I would like to see a range of different acids and a table of how strong these acids are thank you yours sincerely Catherine I am a year seven student studying key stage three.

Catherine B
student - Durham, Lanchester and England
2007

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First, you have to define what you mean by strong. Nitric acid will strip nickel but not chrome and hydrochloric acid will strip chrome but not nickel. Chemists have definitions for strong acids and weak acids, which you should be able to find on the internet or in your library. James Watts - Navarre, Florida 2007 2007 Catherine, I am surprised that you haven't been able to find extensive lists of acids and their strengths on the internet or in your school library. I could list numerous acids and their strengths but I am not going to do your homework, time you had a try at doing it yourself. Brian Terry Aerospace - Yeovil, Somerset, UK

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You may be referring to "strong acids" versus "weak acids", Catherine. In this particular context, "strong acid" doesn't refer to concentration or corrosiveness, but to degree of ionization. If an acid ionizes completely, or let's say 99.99%, it's a "strong acid" even if dilute. There are only six strong acids, and some of the most fearsome acids like HF are not on that list of six and are therefore "weak acids". For some irony, H2SO4 is a strong acid even when diluted 1000 to 1; the only time it's not a "strong acid" is at full concentration because there isn't enough water for it to be able to completely ionize :-)

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007