Corrosive Substances

Corrosive substances destroy human tissue on contact (e.g. skin, eyes and mucous membranes in the mouth and the respiratory tract).
They can also corrode metal or other materials used in ship construction at a very high rate.
Some corrosive substances have an anaesthetic effect on the skin so that the harmful effects of exposure are only felt at a later stage.
The most common corrosive liquids are acids and alkalis.
Alkalis and acids if mixed can form a violent reaction and these two cargo types should be kept totally separated from each other and not be stowed in adjacent tank.

The most corrosive acids:

Nitric acid –is a powerful oxidising agent and can cause a fire when in contact with combustible materials such as wood and cotton. Fabric materials should therefore never be used on spilled nitric acid or any other oxidising agent
Sulphuric acid and chlorosulphonic acid –react violently with water, the resulting reaction producing large amounts of heat which can cause the water to boil
Chlorosulphonic acid, dichloropropionic acid, hydrochloric acid and oleum – are toxic by inhalation
Chloroacetic acid –is toxic by ingestion
Acetic acid and acetic anhydride –are flammable. Most other acids are themselves non-flammable but, in general, acids react with metals to evolve hydrogen which is highly flammable