What Does
Corrosive Mean?
Corrosive refers to materials that can damage or eat away at materials and human body tissue on contact. Corrosives can be acids or bases, and may be found both at home and work place.
Safeopedia Explains Corrosive
Most corrosive chemicals are listed as such on the product label, but it's a good practice to treat all chemicals as corrosives unless they are known to not be.
Corrosive acids includes sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, aluminum chloride, boron trifluoride and zinc chloride. Corrosive bases include ammonium hydroxide, hydroxide (caustic soda), and sodium and potassium hydroxide (caustic potash)/
However, while these corrosive acids/bases are commonly used, many other products and chemicals are corrosive as well. For example, drain-opening chemicals for the home tend to be highly corrosive because they're designed to dissolve the oils and proteins that plug drain pipes.