It’s just one of the two strongest acids. It is able to dissolve glass. But yes, it is toxic and supposedly it kills by removing calcium from the system.
Okay, despite being a weak acid by the formal definition, hydrofluoric acid is extremely corrosive and dangerous because undissociated HF penetrates tissues and the fluoride ion strongly complexes with calcium and magnesium in the body. This is why HF can cause severe burns and systemic toxicity even though it is not a strong acid in the acid base sense.
It’s just one of the two strongest acids. It is able to dissolve glass. But yes, it is toxic and supposedly it kills by removing calcium from the system.
That’s not the definition of a strong acid, a strong acid is an acid that protonates easily
It’s a weak acid
Okay, despite being a weak acid by the formal definition, hydrofluoric acid is extremely corrosive and dangerous because undissociated HF penetrates tissues and the fluoride ion strongly complexes with calcium and magnesium in the body. This is why HF can cause severe burns and systemic toxicity even though it is not a strong acid in the acid base sense.
HF is a pretty weak acid. HCL, H2SO4, HNO3 ARE MUCH acidic. the flouride itself is toxic in other ways, not due to the acid.