Question

How can Acids be harmful?

Answer 1

The term acid describes chemical characteristics of many substances that we use in our daily lives. Strong acids like sulfuric acid are corrosive and can cause severe skin damage that may feel like a burn. Weak acids are less harmful in comparison to strong acids.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Acids can be harmful in various ways as they can produce from mild to very severe injury to our body and surroundings. Let’s discuss a few of their harmful effects.
i) Strong acids like nitric acid, sulfuric acid can effectively burn their way through tissues, layer by layer in the human skin. A few drops of these corrosive acids can cause burning sensation and may leave life-long scars on the skin.
ii) Acids are corrosive in nature. If someone consumes them by unknowingly then they can burn the entire cells and organs of the body causing severe deformities and inflammation of internal tissues.
iii) Our stomachs also have hydrochloric acid in it. If it is produced in optimal quantity then it is always useful for the body, but if overproduction of it HCl occurs then it can lead to acidity and in severe cases cause peptic ulcers in the stomach, which are so painful.
iv) Vapors from some strong acids can cause damage to eyes, throat, nasal chamber, lungs.
v) Industries release $S{{O}_{2}}\,and\,N{{O}_{2}}$ as harmful pollutants. These pollutants when reacting with water, fall as acid rain. Acid Rain can damage the monuments, crops, agriculture, environment etc. Degradation of the Taj-Mahal is due to acid rain.

Note: Acids are very corrosive in nature and hence one should be very careful while using them. While dealing with them always wear protective shields such as gloves, black spectacles and when in laboratory always prefer wearing protective lab coat. However, one should remember that acids are useful too.