Hydrofluoric Acid

Hydrofluoric acid is a solution of hydrogen fluoride in water.  It is a precursor to almost all fluorine compounds including pharmaceuticals such as fluoxetine (Prozac), diverse matererials such as PTFE (Teflon), and elemental fluorine. The ability of hydrofluoric acid to dissolve metal oxides is the basis of several applications including stainless steel pickling, as an etchant of silicon wafers in the semiconductor industry and it is also used to etch glass. Dilute hydrofluoric acid is a component of household rust stain remover and used in wheel cleaner compounds at car washes.

Synonyms: Fluoric Acid; Fluorhydric Acid