What does corrosive mean?

Corrosives are strong chemicals that can chemically attack or destroy materials, such as organic tissues or metals.

What corrosive products exist?

Corrosives are generally strong acids or bases. The more concentrated the chemical is, the more damage it can cause, especially to body tissue. Corrosives begin to cause damage as soon as they come into contact with anything, including the eyes and mouth, or if the chemical is digested or inhaled. Corrosives can even damage metal, so it is important to store them in suitable containers.

Because of their ability to cause damage, corrosives often come with warning labels. Safety information for all corrosive agents is provided in what is called the material safety data sheet (MSDS). This document explains what can happen if the corrosive comes into contact with the skin, eyes, respiratory tract, digestive tract, and metal.

What does corrosion mean?

The corrosion Corrosion is defined as the deterioration of a material as a result of an electrochemical attack by its environment.

Steel corrosion timelapse:

All examples of corrosive substances

These are examples of common corrosive substances and their common uses: corrosive substances comunes y sus usos comunes:

• Hydrochloric acid (also known as muriatic acid) It is used in the chemical industry to produce PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It is also a component of our stomach acids where they help in the digestion of food.
• sulfuric acid It is commonly used in fertilizers and in factories.
• ammonium hydroxide It is most commonly found in household cleaning products for cleaning glass, porcelain, and stainless steel. Common household cleaning products range from 5 to 10% concentration, so their corrosive power is slight.
• Sodium hydroxide (also known as caustic soda) It can be found in highly concentrated forms and is used for everything from papermaking to some cleaning products.
• Nitric acid. Of formula HNO₃With the formula HNO3, it is a viscous liquid commonly used as a reagent in the laboratory, as it is part of the elements that make up Trinitrotoluene (TNT) or various fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate. It can also be found dissolved in acid rain, a known environmental phenomenon consequence of water pollution.
• Formic acid.. Known as methanoic acid and with the formula CH₂O₂Known as methanoic acid and with the formula CH2O2, it is the simplest of the organic acids, often secreted by insects such as the red ant (Formica rufa) or bees as a toxic defense mechanism. It is also produced by nettles, or in acid rain due to atmospheric pollution. In small quantities it can cause minor irritations, but despite being of natural origin it is a strong acid.Formica rufa) or bees as a toxic defense mechanism. It is also produced by nettles, or in acid rain due to atmospheric pollution. In small quantities it can cause minor irritations, but despite being of natural origin it is a strong acid.
• Concentrated acetic acid.Named methylcarboxyl acid or ethanoic acid and chemical formula C2H4O2, it is the acid in vinegar, which gives it its characteristic sour taste and smell. It is also an organic acid, like formic, but it is extremely weak so its applications are varied and not risky. Even so, in very high concentrations it could be dangerous to health.₂H₄O₂, is the acid in vinegar, which gives it its characteristic sour taste and smell. It is also an organic acid, like formic, but it is extremely weak so its applications are varied and not risky. Even so, in very high concentrations it could be dangerous to health.
• Zinc chloride.Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) is a2Zinc chloride (ZnCl2) is a solid solid₂s a solid solid
• Aluminum chlorideOf formula AlCl₃, It's about a compound which has acidic and basic properties at the same time, depending on what it is diluted in. He is a poor electrical conductor and it has a low melting and boiling point, which is why it is used in chemical processes as a reaction catalyst, in wood preservation or in oil cracking. Exposure to this compound is extremely harmful to the body, and can leave permanent consequences in a short time of exposure and with prompt medical attention.
• boron trifluoride. Its formula is BF₃ and is a colorless toxic gas that forms white clouds in humid air. It is frequently used in the laboratory as ácido de Lewis y en la obtención de otros compuestos con boro. Es un corrosivo de metales muy fuerte, que en presencia de humedad puede comerse el acero inoxidable.
• potassium hydroxide. Known as caustic potash and with the chemical formula KOH, it is a highly desiccating inorganic compound, whose natural corrosiveness is used in applications as a fat saponifier (in the production of soap). Its dissolution in water is exothermic, that is, it generates heat energy.
• sodium hydride. With the formula NaH, it is a very slightly soluble transparent substance, classified as a base strong since it is capable of deprotonizing various laboratory acids. In addition to that, it is a powerful desiccant, since it stores enormous amounts of hydrogen, making it highly caustic and used as a solvent.
• dimethyl sulfate. Under normal conditions, this compound with chemical formula C₂H₆O₄S is a colorless, oily liquid, with a slight onion odor, classified as a strong alkylating agent. It is highly toxic: carcinogenic, mutagenic, corrosive and poisonous, so its use in laboratory methylation processes is normally replaced with other safer reagents. It is also environmentally dangerous and volatile, which is why it has often been considered a probable chemical weapon.
• Phenol (carbolic acid). Of chemical formula C₆H₆Or and numerous alternative names, this compound in its pure form is a white or colorless crystalline solid, which can be synthesized from the oxidation of benzene. It is in high demand in the resin industry, as well as in the manufacture of nylon, but also as a component of fungicides, antiseptics and disinfectants. It is easily flammable and corrosive.
• Acetyl chloride. Also called ethanoyl chloride, it is a halide derived from ethanoic acid, which is colorless at room temperature and pressure. It is a compound that does not exist in nature, since in the presence of water it decomposes into ethanoic acid and hydrochloric acid. It is widely used as a dye, disinfectant, insecticide and even as an anesthetic, despite being corrosive by reaction.
• Sodium hypochlorite. Known as lejía When dissolved in water, this compound with the chemical formula NaClO is a strong oxidant and highly reactive with chlorine, thus forming lethally toxic gases. Widely used as a bleach, water purifier and disinfectant, since in certain concentrations it has the ability to dissolve organic matter on contact.
• Benzyl chloroformate. It is an oily liquid with an unpleasant odor that can range from colorless to yellowish and has the chemical formula C.₈H₇ClO₂. Risky for the environment and aquatic animals, it becomes phosphogenous when heated and becomes very flammable. It is carcinogenic and highly corrosive.
• Elemental alkali metals. Any alkali metal in its purest or elemental presentation, such as lithium (Li), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs) or Francium (Fr), reacts very quickly with oxygen and water, therefore that they are never seen in nature in their elemental state. In both cases they react violently, generating a lot of heat, which is why they can be irritating or caustic and dangerous to health.
• Phosphorus pentoxide. Known as phosphorus (V) oxide u phosphoric oxide, is a white powder of molecular formula P₂O₅. Al ser extremadamente hygroscopic (desiccant), has highly corrosive properties and any type of contact with the organism should be avoided. Furthermore, its dissolution in water produces a strong acid that reacts in the presence of metals generating poisonous and flammable gases.
• Calcium oxide. Call quicklime and with the chemical formula CaO, it is a substance widely used by humanity, who has obtained it from limestone rock. It has applications in construction and agriculture, since it is not toxic or corrosive, but when mixed with water it reacts exothermically, so it can irritate the respiratory tract, skin or cause serious eye damage.
• Concentrated ammonia. Normally ammonia, a colorless gas with a repulsive odor composed of nitrogen (NH₃), is produced in various organic processes that eliminate it from the environment due to its toxicity. In fact, it is present in human urine. However, many of its concentrations exhale corrosive gases that are highly harmful to the environment, especially in substances such as ammonia anhydride.

Dangers of corrosive substances

As we say, corrosive products can destroy body tissues. They can irritate or even burn the eyes and skin. If inhaled, corrosives can irritate or burn the mucosa of the nose, throat, and lungs. Additionally, if ingested, corrosives can destroy the mucosa of the mouth, throat and stomach.

Therefore, its use must always be associated with the corresponding security measures.

Metals, alloys and their resistance to corrosion.