• Question: What can acid not destroy?

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      Asked by Holly to Angus, Catherine, Jenni, Melissa, Waqar on 21 Jun 2016.
      • Photo: Angus Cook

        Angus Cook answered on 21 Jun 2016:

        There are some things that acid has a harder time with than others. Gold, for example, won’t be destroyed by either nitric acid or hydrochloric acid on their own. They need to be mixed together into a solution that’s called ‘aqua regia’ (Latin for royal water, if that ever comes up in a pub quiz)..

        Tantalum is another metal that is resistant to a lot of acids. On the other hand it can be dissolved by very alkaline solutions.

        We keep our acids in plastic containers, as some plastics are very resistant to some acids. Glass is also usually quite good, but hydrofluric acid will react with glass:

        Sorry for the low quality…

      • Photo: Catherine Ross

        Catherine Ross answered on 21 Jun 2016:

        Dont forget we have acid in our stomachs which helps us and doesn’t harm us, so not all acids are bad and destructive!

      • Photo: Melissa Ladyman

        Melissa Ladyman answered on 21 Jun 2016:

        It really depends what type of acid you have! Vinegar is an acid, and that can’t really destroy very much. And the only thing that citric acid destroys is the enamel on your teeth which makes dentists very upset!

        But like Angus says, there are some plastics which do not get eaten up by acid, but you have to chose your container carefully!

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