Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: cliverlong on May 12, 2008, 08:56:39 AM

Title: Caustic
Post by: cliverlong on May 12, 2008, 08:56:39 AM

Hi,

   I am trying to get a definition of "caustic".

   Often in text books strong bases / alkalis are described as caustic.

   I have looked up "caustic" in wikipedia and I am redirected to "corrosive" which, understandably, includes strong acids as caustic compounds.

   So caustic (as used to describe alkalis/bases) = corrosive is not a good definition.

   A chemist friend of mine said that "caustic" is derived from the Latin for "flesh-eating" or "flesh-dissolving". Very pleasant! But again this runs into the "acid" problem as surely strong, concentration acids are "flesh-dissolving"?

   So . What properties do strong alkalis or bases have that are commonly defined as "caustic" that distinguish them from other chemicals?

   If there aren't clear, distinguishing features or behaviours or properties of caustic alkalis then surely defining strong alkalis and bases as caustic is a redundant specification?


Ta,

Clive

Title: Re: Caustic
Post by: Borek on May 12, 2008, 09:10:37 AM

My glossary tells it is from Greek.

Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauterization

Title: Re: Caustic
Post by: cliverlong on May 12, 2008, 10:53:47 AM

Quote from: Borek on May 12, 2008, 09:10:37 AM

My glossary tells it is from Greek.

Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauterization

Ok.

Any comments on

Quote

What properties do strong alkalis or bases have that are commonly defined as "caustic" that distinguish them from other chemicals?

If there aren't clear, distinguishing features or behaviours or properties of caustic alkalis then surely defining strong alkalis and bases as caustic is a redundant specification?

?

Ta,

Clive