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Although hydrofluoric acid is regarded as a weak acid, it is very corrosive, even attacking glass when hydrated. [ 20 ] Dilute solutions are weakly acidic with an acid ionization constant K a = 6.6 × 10 −4 (or p K a = 3.18 ), [ 10 ] in contrast to corresponding solutions of the other hydrogen halides, which are strong acids ( p K a < 0 ).
Hydrofluoric acid is highly toxic and corrosive to all tissues including the skin, eyes and digestive system. It penetrates through the skin to the bones and causes their decalcification . [ 8 ] It can cause death by skin contact, ingestion or inhalation of fumes.
The process occurs in the presence of an acid such as sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4) or hydrofluoric acid (HF) as catalyst. [1] Depending on the acid used, the unit is called a sulfuric acid alkylation unit (SAAU) or hydrofluoric acid alkylation unit (HFAU).
This neutralization reaction forms hydrogen fluoride (HF), the conjugate acid of fluoride. In aqueous solution, fluoride has a pK b value of 10.8. It is therefore a weak base, and tends to remain as the fluoride ion rather than generating a substantial amount of hydrogen fluoride. That is, the following equilibrium favours the left-hand side in ...
Hydrofluoric acid, the water solution of hydrogen fluoride (HF), is a contact poison. Even though it is from a chemical perspective a relatively weak acid, it is far more dangerous than conventional strong mineral acids, such as nitric acid, sulfuric acid, or hydrochloric acid. Owing to its lesser chemical dissociation in water (remaining a ...
Hydrogen fluoride is typically produced by the reaction between sulfuric acid and pure grades of the mineral fluorite: [14] CaF 2 + H 2 SO 4 → 2 HF + CaSO 4 About 20% of manufactured HF is a byproduct of fertilizer production, which generates hexafluorosilicic acid .
The biggest concern is that the refinery continues to use the highly toxic chemical hydrofluoric acid to process fuel, a practice that Schwartz and other activists want to see stopped.
Hydrofluoric acid is a contact poison with greater hazards than many strong acids like sulfuric acid even though it is weak: it remains neutral in aqueous solution and thus penetrates tissue faster, whether through inhalation, ingestion or the skin, and at least nine U.S. workers died in such accidents from 1984 to 1994.