[TheForge] RE: [TheForge ]Hydrochloric acid

[Ron Childers]

Bruce, educate us; I thought ferric chloride was a base or alkali... to
neutralize or stop the action we drop etched Damascus in Dawn dish
detergent. I use muriatic to etch wrought iron and the acid is neutralized
with baking soda.

Ron C

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bruce Freeman
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 1:50 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [TheForge] RE: [TheForge ]Hydrochloric acid

Rick,
You're confusing the names.  Muriatic acid is a commercial name for
hydrochloric acid.
What you're describing is the preparation of ferric chloride, an
etchant used for such things as etching PC boards.  (Muriatic acid won't
etch copper but once it is expended on iron it will.  Go figure.)
Bruce
NJ