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Acids and Alkalis

What are the Uses of Acids?
(see also the uses of Sulfuric Acid).

Acids are used both in school and in the chemical industry
(see some examples of the chemical reactions of acids).

Other uses of acids are listed below.

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

2) Acids are used to make fertilizers.

3) Lime scale removers contain weak acids.
Lime scale is the name given to
the calcium carbonate that forms in kettles and pipes.
The formation of lime scale is also called furring.
To remove lime scale you can try
using lemon juice (citric acid) or vinegar (ethanoic acid) .

4) Baking powder used in cooking contains tartaric acid.

Uses 2, 3 and 4 are examples of neutralisation.

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