On Mon, 17 May 2004 13:44:10 -0700, Larry Blanchard
posted:

In article ,
says...
2. You have to admit that the NaCl is greatly accelerating the reaction
rate.

And that's the whole point. It does make a difference - I know,
I've tried it both ways.

Why does it work? I don't really care.

Interesting. And do you expect everyone here to have this lack of
interest, like Charlie does?

I, for one, care why it is reported to work.

You appear not to have considered the downsides of soaking rusted
ferrous metal in salt solution? Museums have a hell of a job removing
salt from ferrous artifacts found in the sea.