[cliverlong]

Hi,

   I am trying to get a definition of "caustic".

   Often in text books strong bases / alkalis are described as caustic.

   I have looked up "caustic" in wikipedia and I am redirected to "corrosive" which, understandably, includes strong acids as caustic compounds.

   So caustic (as used to describe alkalis/bases) = corrosive is not a good definition.

   A chemist friend of mine said that "caustic" is derived from the Latin for "flesh-eating" or "flesh-dissolving". Very pleasant! But again this runs into the "acid" problem as surely strong, concentration acids are "flesh-dissolving"?

   So . What properties do strong alkalis or bases have that are commonly defined as "caustic" that distinguish them from other chemicals?

   If there aren't clear, distinguishing features or behaviours or properties of caustic alkalis then surely defining strong alkalis and bases as caustic is a redundant specification?


Ta,

Clive

[Borek]

My glossary tells it is from Greek.

Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauterization

[cliverlong]

My glossary tells it is from Greek.

Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cauterization

Ok.

Any comments on

What properties do strong alkalis or bases have that are commonly defined as "caustic" that distinguish them from other chemicals?

If there aren't clear, distinguishing features or behaviours or properties of caustic alkalis then surely defining strong alkalis and bases as caustic is a redundant specification?

?

Ta,

Clive