Remove ferric chloride stains with Coca-Cola?

Question

This afternoon, at the lab, I removed a ferric chloride stain from the workbench with a paste of citric acid and water (given 2 hours to work).

Reading up on the chemistry, I see indications that a mixture of citric and phosphoric acids should work better...

...which means Coca-Cola should remove ferric chloride stains. Has anybody tried it?

Also, oxalic acid is supposed to be very effective. It is the active ingredient in Bar Keepers Friend powdered cleanser. (Bar Keepers Friend liquid is citric acid.)

The idea is to convert FeCl into another iron salt that is light-colored and highly soluble in water.

Any other favorite remedies? (Other than to etch the printed circuit boards with ammonium persulfate instead?)

robb · Accepted Answer

from theto work).of citric andHas anybodyactiveKeepers Friendlight-colored andcircuit boardsetch with CuCl  instead ?i guess  i will get zapped for responding as this is the wronggroup ? maybe misc or basics betterhth

Eeyore · Answer

You can't etch copper with a copper salt.Graham

Brendan Gillatt · Answer

I'm sure the acid ingredients in the Cola would do a great job atremoving the stains (they do it well enough to teeth), though thecolourings and flavours probably stain worse than the FeCl, especially ifyou use a wooden bench.I'm sure that ebay will be able to supply you with small quantities ofthese various acids.The Wikipedia mentions in  you can buy a jelly-like compound of phosphoric acid, called navaljelly, made exactly for the job of removing rust stains.A note at the bottom under 'Other applications' mentions:- --Brendan Gillattbrendan {at} brendangillatt {dot} co {dot} uk Key:

robb · Answer

"Eeyore"  wrote inmessage news:oops  my bad ... i was meaning to talk about  using  Cupric Chloride or CuCl2(aq) solution  i suppose as a regenerate-able copper etchant andthat can be made simply  as a result of using  easily availableHydrochloric + Peroxide etchant and regenerate with air bubblesor other faster means ...no ferruc chloride stains and there is plenty of info on the webabout it.....here is a good link so that i do not mis-informseedid i improve  Eeyore ? :)hthrobb

Michael · Answer

(snip) (snip)(snip)Interesting.  The last bottle of Naval Jelly that I bought was specifically forremoving rust from steel and leaving a surface that allows primer to adherewell.---Michael

ehsjr · Answer

Thanks for posting that - it's surprising, and gives one hope.

I thought the only way to remove ferric chloride stains was with an axe, or an explosive charge, or a flamethrower - something like that. :-)

Ed

Michael A. Terrell · Answer

Ospho -- Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 toprove it.Member of DAV #85.Michael A. TerrellCentral Florida

Remove ferric chloride stains with Coca-Cola?

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