Hey all, new here but I know a little about HF(aq) from my chemistry in college.
First, it eats glass. It one of the ONLY acids that will, but in consumer products it is rarely strong enough to do so quickly, though any concentration will.
Second, one of the first things us chem students were required to do before working with it in the lab was to read an article about a man who had been working carelessly with rust-remover, which contained HF, and was hospitalized when he began to experience incredible pain throughout his body. You see, HF is not as corrosive to tissue as, say, nitric acid (HNO3), which will turn your skin into brown goo, but the ions of HF do penetrate tissue and attack minerals and free mineral ions in blood, bone, etc. In layman's terms, you will die painfully without injections of aqueous calcium and other minerals if you don't take care!
On the bright side, gloves will protect you and sodium bi-carb (baking soda) dissolved in water and kept in a spray bottle near by will neutralize the acid if sprayed on a spill or accident.
I've previously read in a book on restoring antique glass about the use of HF, but I have until now been too cautious to try it. Thanks for the before and afters! I think I may just give it a go!
First, it eats glass. It one of the ONLY acids that will, but in consumer products it is rarely strong enough to do so quickly, though any concentration will.
Second, one of the first things us chem students were required to do before working with it in the lab was to read an article about a man who had been working carelessly with rust-remover, which contained HF, and was hospitalized when he began to experience incredible pain throughout his body. You see, HF is not as corrosive to tissue as, say, nitric acid (HNO3), which will turn your skin into brown goo, but the ions of HF do penetrate tissue and attack minerals and free mineral ions in blood, bone, etc. In layman's terms, you will die painfully without injections of aqueous calcium and other minerals if you don't take care!
On the bright side, gloves will protect you and sodium bi-carb (baking soda) dissolved in water and kept in a spray bottle near by will neutralize the acid if sprayed on a spill or accident.
I've previously read in a book on restoring antique glass about the use of HF, but I have until now been too cautious to try it. Thanks for the before and afters! I think I may just give it a go!
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