how something can dissolve metal but not plastic?
In: Chemistry
Because of what is required to dissolve it! Basically, acids and bases take advantage of properties metals exhibit and can oxidize them (has to do with the ways metals become stable with fewer electrons). Plastics don’t have the same ability to oxidize (all plastics have carbon, carbon HATES losing electrons), so they will be more resistent.
You can think of it like this:
A male peacock (acid or base) can successfully attract a mate (metal) using its mating rituals (ability to remove an electron), but it does absolutely nothing for chicken hens (plastic). The ritual impacts the birds (material) differently because they think and behave differently.
Latest Answers