What Are the 10 Acids Used in Daily Life?

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Do you know the 10 acids used in daily life? The world would be an extremely different place without acids. So many of the things we take for granted would not exist, from plastic bottles to cars and even our own bodies. Acids are everywhere in our world and are used in almost every industry imaginable, from making paper to washing clothes to powering our cars. This list of the 10 acids you didn't know were around you will give you an idea of just how important they really are.

1. Nitric Acid

Nitric acid, also known as aqueous nitrate, is a corrosive mineral acid that can be used as a preservative. In addition to its use in food production, nitric acid is also used to manufacture ammonium nitrate, a widely used fertilizer. The vast majority of nitric acid produced worldwide goes into making fertilizers. Nitric acid is commonly stored at room temperature and should not be stored near other chemicals or it may react with them.

2. 10 Acids Used in Daily Life: Phosphoric Acid

Phosphoric acid is a carboxylic acid with many uses. It's added to fizzy sodas, preservatives, and dietary supplements. Its chemical structure is H₃PO₄. Phosphoric acid can also be used to clean water by removing organics and pollution from it. It is found naturally in all living things. In humans, phosphoric acid helps form tooth enamel and bones. Many common household cleaners contain phosphoric acid as well.

3. Potassium Hydroxide

Used primarily to manufacture other chemicals, potassium hydroxide is most commonly found in drain cleaners. It's also used to make paper, textiles and adhesives. Potassium hydroxide has a wide range of applications-from extracting oil from seeds to removing rust from iron-but it can be dangerous if you aren't careful. At just one part per million, potassium hydroxide will burn your skin and eyes.

4. Aluminum Chloride

Used in antiperspirants, deodorants, and other skin products. It's also added to toothpastes, mouthwashes, and even processed drinking water to prevent buildup of calcium deposits. Aluminum chloride is most commonly used to induce hypothermia during surgery on animals. It's been linked to Alzheimer's disease and seizures when taken by mouth or inhaled.

5. Hydrochloric Acid

The other acid you can find among the 10 acids used in daily life is Hydrochloric acid. This acid is crucial for digesting proteins. The stomach uses hydrochloric acid to break down proteins into amino acids. Without HCl, we would not be able to absorb essential amino acids from our food, which would prevent us from building and repairing muscle tissue and body tissues. HCl also aids digestion by lowering stomach pH levels and killing certain bacteria. Hydrochloric acid can be found in your stomach, as well as all over your body - it's even found on your skin!

6. Sodium Carbonate

Sodium carbonate, also known as washing soda, is often used to remove stains and clean things like laundry and toilets. It can be bought at almost any supermarket or hardware store. Many people buy sodium carbonate to use in making homemade cleaning products because it's cheap, easy to find, and effective. The chemical formula for sodium carbonate is Na₂CO₃; it usually occurs as white crystals with a salty taste.

7. 10 Acids Used in Daily Life: Ammonium Nitrate

In addition to being a common fertilizer, ammonium nitrate is used as an oxidizer for rocket fuel. It's also commonly used by hunters and farmers to increase performance of their shotgun shells. However, it has been banned from use as a fertilizer because it can be converted into a explosive compound (ANFO).

8. Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a key component of our atmosphere, and its uses are almost as varied as its prevalence. Aside from oxygen, carbon dioxide is one of only two gases that occur naturally in all three states: solid (dry ice), liquid (carbonated beverages) and gas. This ubiquitous compound occurs naturally during cellular respiration, combustion and photosynthesis. Without it, most forms of life would be impossible.

9. Sulfuric Acid

Sulfuric acid is mainly used for manufacturing and construction. It's also found in detergents, soaps, cleaning products, food preservatives and fertilizers. Sulfuric acid is a strong corrosive (harming living tissue) chemical that requires extra safety precautions when used. Users should always wear gloves, goggles and a face mask when handling sulfuric acid because it can cause severe burns to skin and eyes as well as other complications if it enters your lungs.

10. Urea

Found naturally in urine, urea is one of those ingredients we tend to ignore since it's usually involved with bodily functions that don't affect us on a day-to-day basis. In reality, urea is used as a common fertilizer and can be found in deodorants and air fresheners. Since it's clear and completely odorless, urea is also often used as an ingredient in smoke bombs.