While no single chemical "melts" iron in the way you might think of dissolving sugar in water, hydrochloric acid (HCl) can dissolve iron through a chemical reaction.
Here's a breakdown:
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Melting vs. Dissolving: Melting is a physical process where a substance changes from a solid to a liquid due to heat. Dissolving involves a chemical reaction where a substance breaks down into smaller components when mixed with a solvent.
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Hydrochloric Acid's Role: Hydrochloric acid reacts with iron, dissolving it into iron(II) chloride and hydrogen gas. This is a chemical reaction, not a phase change (melting).
- Chemical Equation: Fe (s) + 2 HCl (aq) → FeCl₂ (aq) + H₂ (g)
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Other Acids: Other strong acids, like sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), can also dissolve iron, but the reaction with hydrochloric acid is more commonly referenced in this context.
Why not melting? To actually melt iron, you need to apply intense heat. Iron's melting point is 1538 °C (2800 °F). This is typically done in a furnace, not with a chemical.
In Summary: While "melting" isn't the technically accurate term, hydrochloric acid is the chemical commonly associated with dissolving iron. This is due to a chemical reaction that breaks down the iron.
