Hydrofluoric Acid

hydrofluoric acid [¦hī·drə′flu̇r·ik ′as·əd]

(inorganic chemistry)

An aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride, HF; colorless, fuming, poisonous liquid; extremely corrosive, it is a weak acid as compared to hydrochloric acid, but will attack glass and other silica materials; used to polish, frost, and etch glass, to pickle copper, brass, and alloy steels, to clean stone and brick, to acidize oil wells, and to dissolve ores.

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Hydrofluoric Acid 

an aqueous solution of hydrogen fluoride, HF. Hydrogen fluoride is soluble in water in any proportions. The azeotropic mixture contains 38.26 percent HF and has a boiling point of 112°C (750 mm Hg) and a density of 1.138 g/cm³. Hydrofluoric acid reacts with oxides to form fluorides. It dissolves fluorides, forming complex compounds with them; it reacts vigorously with silicate materials, especially glass. It is used as a solvent and as a reagent in the preparation of fluorides; it is also used for etching glass.

REFERENCES

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