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Acids and Alkalis

Common uses of Acids - see also uses of Sulfuric Acid.

Outside of their uses in the chemical industry,
common uses of acids are

1) Steel used in construction is acid treated before painting.
Dilute sulfuric or hydrochloric acid will remove any surface rust
which would otherwise spread under the painted surface.
'Rust remover' used to repair cars is dilute phosphoric acid - H3PO4.

2) Baking powder contains tartaric acid.

3) 'Lime scale' removers contain dilute acids.
Try using lemon juice or vinegar (weak acids).
Lime scale is calcium carbonate (also called furring).

4) A wasp sting is alkali.
It may be neutralised with a weak acid (lemon juice or vinegar).

Uses 2, 3, and 4 are examples of neutralisation.

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