Han wrote:
Frank wrote in
:

Han wrote:
Frank wrote in news:gt4657$d4a$1
@news.eternal-september.org:

As a chemist who had to study German, I note that acetic acid is,
Essigsäure in German and Essig is the German name for vinegar.
Historically, I assume that as vinegar has been around forever, when
the German's started to develop their chemical talents and extracted
acetic acid from vinegar, they naturally called it vinegar acid.
Similar nomenclature evolved for formic acid (Ameisensäure) which is
found in ants (Ameise).
Same in Dutch:
Azijn is vinegar
Azijnzuur is acetic acid
Mier is ant
Mierezuur is formic acid

But the real point is that vinegar or dilute acetic acid solutions
are mild, but pure concentrated acetic acid is an aggressive acid,
though not an oxidant like sulfuric or nitric acids.

Yes but for attacking cement, I don't know for sure. I do know that
muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) will attack cement and that no
oxidation is involved. Me, I would not use vinegar on cement to be on
the safe side. OP could run test and take a chip of brick and let sit
in vinegar.

Brick is far from concrete. I don't think you can compare that.
Concrete is made with portland cement which is basic. Seems to me (but
I'm not really sure) that concrete would be slowly attacked by acid.
Muriatic acid is diluted hydrochloric acid (not concentrated, but I would
not drink it , while vinegar should be almost safe to drink - think
pickles). I think that muriatic acid etches concrete and cleans it for
instance for a repair, ensuring new concrete adheres properly.




OP said "cement paving brick". If it's same stuff I have in part of a
retaining wall and fireplace in family room, it's concrete cast in
individual brick form. In my case, these are white bricks and
impossible to get clean of fireplace soot.

Many years ago, I used muriatic acid for cleaning and etching basement
floor for painting. I'm sure a swabbing would just be neutralized and
this would hold for vinegar but a lot of acid would probably be corrosive.