A corrosive is best described as which of the following?

A corrosive is best described as which of the following?

• A. An effect of acids and bases on a metal.
• B. A substance's tendency to deteriorate another substance.
• C. The percentage of an acid or base dissolved in water.
• D. A degree a substance will mix with water.

Answer: (B)

Corrosivity is the tendency of a substance to chemically deteriorate or destroy another material on contact. The best description is the one that states a substance's tendency to deteriorate another substance because it captures the general action of corrosion: a chemical reaction that causes damage to materials or tissues. It’s not about how much of a substance dissolves in water (solubility) or how well it mixes with water (miscibility), and it isn’t limited to damage to metals alone—corrosives can harm metals, skin, and other materials.

Corrosivity is the tendency of a substance to chemically deteriorate or destroy another material on contact. The best description is the one that states a substance's tendency to deteriorate another substance because it captures the general action of corrosion: a chemical reaction that causes damage to materials or tissues. It’s not about how much of a substance dissolves in water (solubility) or how well it mixes with water (miscibility), and it isn’t limited to damage to metals alone—corrosives can harm metals, skin, and other materials.