From: Chunin Martinez (chunin@cimphoto.com)
Date: 09/08/02-11:42:16 AM Z
I can't tell the exact difference between them but I have used them not in
printing but in chemistry. I can say that Nitric Acid is one of the
strongest that I have used and it is many times stronger than Acetic Acid.
Acetic Acid is relatively weak and comparable to Citric Acid found in citrus
fruits and also comparable to vinegar. Acetic Acid is what is used as a
stop bath in B&W photography. Nitric Acid is strong enough to be used to
ignite gun powder.
Chunin Martinez
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric S. Theise" <mataro@cyberwerks.com>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: acids
> Christina Z. Anderson writes:
> > Question: what is the
> > difference between acetic acid and nitric acid?
>
> Can't speak to acetic, but of the three "acids" commonly used in etching,
> nitric is the scariest. From Sacilotto and Saff: "Nitric acid is a
> strong, colorless liquid that attacks metals and organic tissues with
> equally devastating effects. It is never used in pure form but always
> diluted with water. The fumes of this acid are also highly corrosive
> and should never be inhaled."
>
> The Dutch mordant (water, hydrochloric acid, and potassium chloride)
> is what I use for hard and soft ground etching, and ferric chloride is
> the standard for photogravure. I seem to recall that ferric isn't truly
> an acid, but a salt that nevertheless bites metal. Don't know if either
> of those would work for your purposes, but I'd be extremely cautious
> around the nitric.
>
> --Eric
>
>
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