What are the hazards of hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid is not well known to many people, so let’s simply introduce this chemical substance in the same way as in a chemistry class. First of all, let’s talk about its material form. It is not a gas, but an aqueous solution. It is colorless, clear and transparent. It is easily soluble in water or ethanol, and slightly soluble in ethanol. Has a pungent smell. Because of its corrosiveness, it is often used to make format patterns on glass, or to mark scales or text, etc. Next, let’s talk about the harm this substance does to the human body.

In short, the harm of hydrofluoric acid is "invading tendons and eroding bones". "Invading tendons" means that fluoride ions combine with calcium ions to affect nerve function, and "eroding bones" means that fluoride ions seriously reduce bone density and cause bone complications. For similar exposures, hydrofluoric acid is far more dangerous than concentrated sulfuric acid for three reasons:

The first is that it is very hidden.

Concentrated sulfuric acid will cause a strong burning sensation soon after exposure, and the injured area usually turns white like a blister first and then carbonizes. However, obvious irritation can be treated promptly. Taking off clothes after exposure to a small amount of concentrated sulfuric acid and rinsing with large amounts of water are usually very effective. Hydrofluoric acid only causes noticeable pain when in contact at a concentration of more than 30%. It has no irritation at low concentrations (as low as 2%), and its appearance is difficult to distinguish from water (concentrated sulfuric acid is more viscous and has a slightly higher refractive index, while hydrofluoric acid has no obvious characteristics). Even at low concentrations, hydrofluoric acid will penetrate into tissues at an extremely fast rate (much faster than other mineral acids), so once exposed it will inevitably invade tissues and must be treated in a hospital (in contrast, if you rinse with concentrated sulfuric acid with water and find that no bubbles appear, you can rest assured).

The second is that it has a wide range of effects.

After hydrofluoric acid enters the human body, it enters the blood circulation and affects tissues throughout the body, especially bones. The toxicity of hydrofluoric acid is mainly to attack calcium ions and form insoluble calcium fluoride: acute reactions include rapid decrease in blood calcium, causing arrhythmia and even cardiac arrest.

The third is the lack of treatment options and many side effects.

Without amputation, hydrofluoric acid exposure can usually be treated with calcium gluconate alone: ​​topical ointment applied to the exposed area or sometimes even systemic medication. It can also be taken orally to bind fluoride ions. However, this treatment method will produce a large amount of insoluble calcium fluoride: when the dose is small, it can be metabolized by the kidneys (which also causes nephrotoxicity); when the dose is large, it will induce stones throughout the body and cannot be removed by surgery. Many "healers" face not only the psychological trauma caused by amputation, but also very real physical pain.