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grezlbe asked in Science & MathematicsChemistry · 1 decade ago

Can any chemical turn solid metal to dust?

I want to know if it is possible for some chemical substance to be erosive to soft metals like aluminum, copper, and zinc.

When a solid piece of aluminum, copper, or zinc is placed into the chemical, it should be able to erode it in a way similar to mechanical (physical) processes without using mechanical processes and without changing the chemical composition of the metal (no chemical reaction).

Does such a chemical exist? If so, what is it and how does it work?

Update:

Ideally, this chemical should be a liquid, but it could also be a solid that is soluble in water or alcohol. This way, the solid metal (i.e. in the form of chunks) could be dropped into the solution and then left there for some period of time.

It would be acceptable if the process also required heat or a small amount of physical action that could be provided by boiling the solution.

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    You're asking for a chemical that can corrode a metal reducing it to dust made from it's original particles without a chemical reaction taking place. And just to be clear you're not asking if it can be put into solution but specifically more like grains of sand or dust? I don't think such a thing exists. Corrosion as the above stated, is a chemical reaction and not what you're looking for.

    Now that you've given some more details, yes I could think of a way. If you put the metal into the solution and super saturate it, when you cool it down you can get a precipitate to emerge from the solution. If you think about it like that, your mystery chemical is anything that the metal can be put into solution with. That's what is going to be key.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Note: No one ever formulated the scientific principles based on the scripture references. They had to determine it independently. Then, much later, some apologist would dig through the Bible, looking for verses that superficially resembled the idea. That's not science, but it is an abuse of the Bible. Many of the notions you mention are based on ordinary observance, not science. The wind has "weight" because you can feel it pushing against you, but they didn't have a word for "air pressure", so they substituted the word "mishqal". It describes the experience, but it doesn't accurately describe the phenomenon. Similarly, blood was "precious" because without it, you die, but no scribe ever understood the principles of cardiovascular circulation or oxygen exchange. The same kind of divine appropriation was applied to fat because of the calorie content, but the scribes only knew that it helped people to live in a famine-prone world and therefore contained divine attributes. You've had to pick and choose your verses. You've ignored the countless verses about the sun rising and setting (not to mention those "miraculous" occasions when it "stood still"). Those verses show a very observation-based understanding of the world, with no understanding of the scientific principles underlying them. And your assertions that the Bible "describes" something doesn't mean that it gets the description right. And while we're on the subject, where is this "firmament" I keep hearing about? BTW, if the Hebrew word "hug" actually means "sphere", I'd like to see your linguistic proof. The same word is used in Proverbs 8:27, and it definitely means an "inscribed circle" there.

  • Aurium
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Mercury is corrosive to some soft metals like aluminium. It produces a dust like product which is probably an alloy (amalgam)

    Spilt mercury ( a liquid metal) is a dangerous good for air transport for this reason.

  • 1 decade ago

    If you want to reduce a metal to dust without mechanical or chemical means, you're left with nothing. You need to re-phrase your question.

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  • Zeux
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    water, and iron.. it will eventually become rust away and become a dust :)

    zinc, copper, and aluminum.. not sure.

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