Detailing Chemical Identification
From DetailingWiki
Chemical Identification
This is a list of chemicals found in some automotive products, giving their chemical names and synonyms, along with the effect they can have on vehicles. This is by no means an exhaustive list
Critics say the lack of knowledge about chemicals exposes a system where environmental regulators largely rely on companies that profit from industrial chemicals to sound alarms about their safety. Questions about potential effects on human health and the environment often aren't raised until years after a chemical is introduced to the marketplace.
Acid is highly corrosive; the skull and crossbones warning on an acid label is there for a reason; acids will etch or erode anything in its path, they are also very effective in dissolving metals and etching glass.
The dilution of an acid doesn’t make it safer as the addition of a molecule of water to a chemical compound, without forming any other products is known as hydration (i.e. dilution causes the pH to decrease) But since pH is not a very good indicator of the strength of the acid in every system, this approach won't always produce the desired results. Dilution - adding water to an acid it lowers its pH, i.e. it becomes more acidic; the process is called hydrolysis)
Chemical Name: Oxalic Acid
Is a safer yet still very effective cleaning chemical, it will do a better job than alkaline cleaners, but is nowhere near as harmful to the vehicle or yourself. Oxalic acid is a relatively strong "weak acid" Oxalic acid exhibits many of the reactions characteristic of other carboxylic acids, it’s a relatively strong organic acid, being about 10,000 times stronger than acetic acid (Vinegar).This acid still needs to be handled with care and diluted correctly, but it’s safer than Hydrofluoric acid yet a very effective alternative.
Chemical Name: Ammonia (NH3)
The polarity of NH3 molecules and their ability to form hydrogen bonds explains to some extent the high solubility of ammonia in water. However, a chemical reaction also occurs when ammonia dissolves in water. In aqueous solution, ammonia acts as a base; acquiring hydrogen ions from H2O to yield ammonium and hydroxide ions the production of hydroxide ions when ammonia dissolves in water gives aqueous solutions of ammonia their characteristic alkaline (basic) properties. Not all of the dissolved ammonia reacts with water to form ammonium ions. A substantial fraction remains in the molecular form in solution, in other words, ammonia is a weak base, and quantitative indication of this strength is given by its base ionization constant
Bleach and Ammonia have pH levels of 11.0-12.9 an Alkaline
Chemical Name: Sodium Metasilicate, Anhydrous
Synonyms: Silicic acid, sodium salt Effects on Vehicle: Damages aluminium, causes chalking, streaks paint. Found In: Cleaners, de-greasers
Chemical Name: Hydrogen Fluoride
Synonyms: HF, Hydrofluoric Acid Bi-ammonium fluoride, ammonium fluoride Effects on person: Small amounts of concentrated hydrofluoric acid on the skin can be fatal. Effects on Vehicle: Damages wheels, painted surfaces Found In: Wheel Cleaner, Concrete Cleaner, Fallout Remover
Hydrofluoric Acid:
Is dangerous, just small amounts of concentrated hydrofluoric acid on the skin can be fatal. The purpose of this notice is to raise awareness of the inherent dangers associated with dermal contact with concentrated hydrofluoric acid and of the importance of observing strict precautions when handling it. Hydrofluoric acid is a corrosive and toxic liquid that is potentially fatal even following dermal exposure to small amounts (Burke et al., 1973). The fatality risks described highlights the potential for relatively small quantities of concentrated hydrofluoric acid to produce acute systemic toxicity and it is clear that laboratory personnel underestimated the risks associated with the acid
Hydrofluoric (HF) acid's ability to dissolve oxides makes it important in the purification of both aluminium and uranium. It is also used to etch glass, to remove surface oxides from silicon in the semiconductor industry, as a catalyst for the alkylation of iso-butane and butene in oil refineries and to remove oxide impurities from stainless steel in a process called pickling.
More information –
1.Hydrofluoric acid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2.Annual Occupational Hygiene, Vol. 40, No.6, pp. 705-710, 1996.
Do not confuse hydrochloric acid (HCL) with hydrofluoric (HF, has a pH of 3.14) acid because of the similarity of names. On the skin, hydrochloric acid burns from the outside in. Hydrofluoric acid solution readily penetrates the skin and burns both skin and deeper tissues. If enough acid is absorbed, it may lethally affect the heart and nervous system.
Ammonium hydrogen fluoride NH4HF2 (or Ammonium bifluoride SiO2) is miss-classified as the safe alternative to hydrogen fluoride, once mixed with water it becomes hydrogen fluoride one of the most common, and dangerous, acid wheel cleaners used in automatic carwashes today. Its effectiveness removing brake dust and difficult contaminants from wheels is undisputed, but most chemists say Ammonium bifluoride presents an unjustifiable and potentially lethal risk.
Chemical Name: Benzene
Synonyms: Benzol, Cyclohexatriene
Effects on Vehicle: Paint streaking, damage
Health Effects: Carcinogenic
Found In: Solvents, Compounds
Chemical Name: Toluene
Synonyms: Toulon, Methylbenzene
Effects on Vehicle: Paint streaking and damage
Health Effects:
Central nervous system depression, cardiac disrythmia
Found In: Solvents, Compounds
Chemical Name: m-Xylene
Synonyms: Meta-Xylene, 1,3-Dimethylbenzene, m-Xylol
Effects on Vehicle: Paint streaking and other damage
Found In: Solvents, Compounds
Chemical Name: Phosphoric Acid
Synonyms:Orthophosphoric acid
Effects on Vehicle Smokes wheels, chalks plastics
Found In: Wheel Cleaners, de-greasers, concrete cleaners
Chemical Name: Sodium Hydroxide
Synonyms: Caustic Soda, Sodium Hydrate, and Soda Lye
Effects on Vehicle: Strong oxidizer, causes discoloration, attacks rubber and plastics.
Found In: Cleaners
Chemical Name: Potassium Hydroxide
Synonyms: Caustic potash, Potassium hydrate, Potassium lye.
Effects on vehicle: Strong oxidizer affects paint in high % concentrations
Found In: Cleaners
Chemical Name: 2-Butoxyethanol
Synonyms: Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, Monobutyl glycol ether, Butyl
Effects on Vehicle: Spotting and discoloration on plastic and viny, and harsh on fabrics.
Muriatic Acid – (is also a form of hydrochloric acid; Muriatic acid has a pH of 0.1)
Dilution of an acid- the addition of a molecule of water to a chemical compound, without forming any other products is known as hydration (i.e. dilution causes the pH to decrease)
MSDS and pH values – - acids can be safe if used with care and the directions are followed precisely. Accidents and expensive replacements can always be avoided if you do some research and are smart about your choices. Always check the products MSDS and its pH value before you use it.
Information resource
1.Chemistry Definitions (Terminology) Hamilton
2.Glossary of Chemical Terms - Faculty of Chemical Technology
3.National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA)
4.The Royal Society of Chemistry; Cambridge, 1995 Silicon-Containing Polymers Jones, Richard, G.
5.Wikipedia Dictionary (http://en.wikipedia.org)
6.“Automotive Detailing Inside & Out, A Knowledge Base for the Perfectionist"– by Jon Miller
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