Heidi wrote:
> If that were true then we would have nasty acid burns from canned soup
> and vegetables! When you dissolve salt in water, you get salt water.
> Both H2O and NACl are very stable compounds and it would take quite a
> lot of energy to make them separate into their elements (H and O or NA
> and Cl) which is what would be required to enable them to recombine in
> to HCl.
>
> What's happening is the iron is oxidizing when exposed to the air
> (which has O2). The salt is acting as an abrasive and removing the
> surface rust and exposing iron that hasn't corroded.
>
> I would suggest oiling the surface that is rusting. And not using salt
> because it's abrasive properties may remove the oil.
>
> Heidi
>

Not only that - salt water gargles for sore gums, etc. would light you
up like a burning bush were it HCl.


jim