Hydrofluoric acid dissolves glass.

Hydrofluoric acid dissolves glass.

Hydrofluoric acid is a highly toxic and corrosive solution of hydrogen fluoride in water. It dissolves glass by reacting with Silicon Oxide, which is the main ingredient in glass. (In fact, it will dissolve almost anything Oxide, so it’s good for purifying metals and the silicon used in semiconductors). It’s stored in polyethylene or Teflon containers, which don’t contain any oxides. Hydrofluoric acid is really nasty stuff, which can zip through your skin without damage and then destroy the tissues and organs underneath by reacting with calcium and magnesium ions in your body.  Unlike more familiar acids, which will burn your skin, hydrofluoric acid will also poison you if you spill it on yourself.