• Question: what is your favorite acid to use and why?

    Asked by E_kelleher to Laura, Matthew, Andrew on 20 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Andrew McKinley

      Andrew McKinley answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      I don’t really have a favourite acid. I used nitric acid for cleaning my spectropscopy cells during my study – it was really good for getting rid of DNA.

      Hydrogen fluoride isn’t that acidic, but it will pass through your skin without a trace and dissolve your bones… that’s probably my least-favourite acid to work with!

    • Photo: Matthew Camilleri

      Matthew Camilleri answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      I try to use organic acids, with para-toluenesulfonic acid topping that list because it is as good as any normal inorganic acids and would ensure that I can do my work in a water free environment.

      I also enjoy using ethanoic acid with my chips, it makes the taste so much better 🙂

    • Photo: Laura Schofield

      Laura Schofield answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      I use citric acid and itaconic acid a lot and I quite like them because they don’t smell! Methacrylic acid (one of my products) really stinks so that’s my least favourite!

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