at the beginning of this lesson, there was a ...
at the beginning of this lesson, there was a question about two acids. vinegar, which contains acetic acid, is used in foods and has few safety concerns. hydrochloric acid is used in chemistry labs and requires the use of safety goggles and gloves. why do the safety concerns for these two acids differ?
Answer
# Brief Explanations:
The safety concerns differ because of the concentration and strength of the acids. Vinegar has a low - concentration acetic acid (around 5% - 8% in common vinegar), which is relatively mild and less corrosive. Hydrochloric acid used in labs is usually in a much higher concentration (e.g., concentrated HCl is around 37% and is highly corrosive). The higher the concentration and corrosiveness of an acid, the more safety precautions (like safety goggles and gloves) are needed to protect against potential harm (such as eye damage, skin burns etc.).
# Answer:
The safety concerns differ because the concentration and corrosiveness of the two acids are different. Vinegar has a low - concentration of acetic acid (mild), while lab - grade hydrochloric acid is highly concentrated and corrosive.