Caustics

SULPHURIC ACID

• Oil of vitriol; Oleum; Battery acid

• Latin word "vitriolum" for "glassy", as

crystals of several metallic sulfates resemble
pieces of colored glass
Physical Appearance
• Sulfuric acid is a heavy, oily, colorless,
odorless, non-fuming liquid.
• It is hygroscopic,
• i.e. it has great affinity
for water with which
it reacts violently, giving
off intense heat.
Uses/Sources
• most widely used industrial chemical
• It is used as a feedstock in the manufacture of a
number of chemicals, e.g. acetic acid, hydrochloric
acid, phosphoric acid, ammonium sulfate, barium
sulfate, copper sulfate, phenol, synthetic fertilizers,
dyes, pharmaceuticals, detergents, paint
• Storage batteries utilize sulfuric acid as an electrolyte.
• Sulfuric acid is also used in the leather, fur, food
processing, wool, and uranium industries, for gas
drying
• Sulfuric acid can be formed in smog from the
photochemical oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur
trioxide and subsequent reaction with water.
• It is a major component of acid rain.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
1. Lips‐ Swollen and excoriated, brown or black
streaks.

2. Corrosion of mucous membrane

3. Immediate burning pain, stridor, drooling,

odynophagia, dysphagia

4. Pharyngeal pain ( MC), Epigastric pain

5. vomitus-brownish or blackish in colour due to

altered blood (coffee grounds vomit), and may
contain shreds of the charred wall of the stomach.
s/s
6. Thirst intense
7. asphyxia due to oedema of the glottis
8. Teeth‐ Chalky white,
Tongue –swollen, sodden ,black,
eyes –sunken and pupils dilated
9. Voice ‐‐‐ Hoarse, husky
10. Abdomen‐‐‐distended and very tender,
constipation, tenesmus
11. Mind remains clear till death
12.Late‐ strictures/ stenosis
Diagnosis
1. Litmus test
2. Fresh stains in clothing may be tested by
adding a few drops of sodium carbonate.
Production of effervescence (bubbles) is
indicative of an acid stain.
3. If vomitus or stomach contents are
available, add 10% barium chloride. A heavy
white precipitate forms which is insoluble on
adding 1 ml nitric acid.
• FATAL DOSE : About 20 to 30 ml of
concentrate sulfuric acid.
• Deaths have been reported with ingestion of
as little as 3.5 ml.

• FATAL PERIOD: 12 TO 24 Hrs

Cause of death:

1. Spasm or oedema of the glottis

2. Collapse due to perforation of the stomach

3. Toxemia

4. Delayed death may occur

PM FINDINGS
• EXTERNAL
• INTERNAL
• Changes limited to upper digestive tract and the
respiratory system
• Inflammation, swelling, corrosion, haemorrhage,
and eschar formation
• Squamous epithelium of the stomach relatively
resistant to acid as compared to columnar
epithelium of the stomach
• Perforation of esophagus rare
• Stomach converted into soft, spongy, black mass
which disintegrates on touch
• Spasm of the pylorus
• Mucosal ridges more damaged than the
intervening furrows
• Perforation
• In many cases little or no acid is found in viscera
• Corrosion, inflammation of the larynx, trachea
Time course of injury
SULPHURIC ACID

• Acute inflammatory stage ‐‐ 4 to 7 Days

• Granulation stage 4 to 7 Days
• Perforation 7 to 12 Days
• Cicatrisation or stricture 3 weeks to years
Forensic Issues
• Accidental poisoning may arise from mistaken
identity since sulfuric acid resembles glycerine
and castor oil.
• Sulfuric acid is a rare choice for either suicide or
homicide.
• In addition to routine viscera and body fluids, a
portion of corroded skin should be cut out,
placed in rectified spirit or absolute alcohol and
sent for chemical analysis.
• Stained clothing must also be sent (preservative
not necessary).
• Vitriolage
Nitric acid
• Aqua fortis; Azotic acid; Engraver’s acid;
Hydrogen nitrate
Source/use
• Workers in the following professions may be
exposed to nitrogen oxides or nitric acid:
glassblowing, engraving and electroplating,
underground blasting operations, farming
(fertilizers), welding, fire fighting, and
industrial chemistry

• Fatal Dose
• About 20 to 30 ml.
NITRIC ACID
• s/s similar to Sulphuric acid
• More eructation and greater abdominal
distension due to formation of gases
• Yellow staining‐ of clothes, tongue, teeth
• Inhalation of fumes causes lacrimation,
photophobia
• Irritation of air passages and lungs
producing sneezing, coughing, dyspnea and
asphyxia
xanthoproteic reaction
• Corroded areas appear yellowish due to
• Stains on clothing and teeth also appear
yellowish
• When you drop nitric acid on your skin
or nails, it turns yellow after some time,
indicating the presence of protein.
PM findings

• Corrosion of the mucous membrane may not

be accompanied by yellowish discoloration
but may appear brown, black due to
formation of acid haematin
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
• Muriatic acid; Spirit of salts
• Less corrosive
• Used as a bleaching agent
(less than 10% HCl)
HYDROCHLORIC ACID
• S/S – Mucous memb is at first grey or grey
white and later becomes brown or black
• Constant exposure to fumes produces chronic
Poisoning char.
• Coryza, conjunctivitis, corneal ulcer,
pharyngitis, bronchitis, inflammation of the
gums and loosening of the teeth.
• PM Findings: Stomach contains brownish
fluid, the folds of the whole stomach mucosa
are brownish
Differences
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
• It is a unique acid, in that most of its
toxicity is due to the anion, fluoride, and not
to the cation, hydrogen.
• Ingestion of hydrofluoric acid may be
associated with significant systemic
absorption and manifestations such as
hypocalcaemia, acidosis, and shock
HYDROFLUORIC ACID
• Fuming liquid, very powerful corrosive

• USES
• Window cleaning solution, Glass etching, Rust
removers, Tanning, Laboratory, Industry
Mode of action
• Hydrofluoric acid burns result in severe progressive tissue
and bone destruction, and excruciating pain.
• Unlike other inorganic acids, hydrofluoric acid rapidly
traverses the skin barrier and invades deeper tissue
planes.
• The fluoride ion then proceeds to affect tissue integrity
and metabolism in 3 ways:
1. Liquefactive necrosis.
2. Decalcification and destruction of bone.
3. Production of insoluble salts—calcium and
magnesium fluoride.
• These effects result in hypocalcaemia and
hypomagnesaemia
TREATMENT
• Washing copiously with water

• Soaking burnt area in icy solution Of 25%

MgSO4, benzalkonium, benzethonium

(The ice retards diffusion of fluoride ion, while

the magnesium or quaternary ammonium
compound interacts with the ion to prevent
invasion of deeper tissues)