What Can corrode metals and fade fabric?

Answer 1

It depends on the types of metals or fabric, but in common, any acids or bases/alkalies can corrode metals by chemical reactions. The common acids we usually deal with include hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid (lab acids), vinegar (weak acid used in kitchen) and hydrofluoric acid (weak but the only one that can corrode glass), and most of them can fade fabric as well. The strength of acids is judged over the pH scale from 0 to 6 (7 is neutral water and above, from 8 to 14 are bases). The lower the pH, the stronger the acids, and 0 acids are extremely powerful (those are called super acids).

The bases/alkalies can do the same thing when they are at the pH of 9 to 14. The common bases we can find around include baking soda (weak base) and the hydroxides (such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide (caustic soda)). The strong bases are used in soaps, but they are very corrosive and can fade, even melt down fabric or metals at the higher pH. Alkalies are called the "subset" of bases, where they include two characters: they are soluble and release hydroxide ions, and must be a product of any acid to an alkaline metals (such as lithium, sodium, potassium...)

Because acids and bases/alkalies are opposite in pH level, so they trend to neutralize each other: their products are usually water and a salts (the most seen is table salts NaCl)

Talking about their corrosion on metals and fading fabric, acids and bases can react with most weak metals such as alkaline (earth) metals listed above. Some stronger metals such as silver, gold, platinum... can resist the corrosion caused by relatively strong acids, but get attacked by bases and halogens like fluorine. Also, the mixture of acids (like "royal water"), strong acids (super acids), heated acids (to increase reactivity) and the appearances of halogens in acids mixtures can cause corrosion on these metals as well.

So in general, any acids and bases can cause corrosion on metals and fade fabric if they are strong enough.

Answer 2

Corrosive substances like acids or saltwater can corrode metals, while exposure to sunlight can fade fabric over time. It's important to properly store and maintain both metals and fabrics to prevent corrosion and fading.