Phosphoric acid

I recently started adjusted the pH of my sparge water with 10% phosphoric acid.

How powerful is this stuff?  I’ve been pretty careful with it, but will I get a nasty burn if I accidentally spill some on my hand?

Keep it out of your eyes and you’ll be fine.  If you get some on your hand, wash it off, but it shouldn’t cause a burn since it is diluted 10:1.

Vinegar is like 5% acidity. I think acetic acid isn’t as strong as phosphoric (something about being polyprotic?). But basically, 10% phosphoric about twice as dangerous as vinegar, which is to say, not that dangerous. I always wear goggles when handling acids and bases, and I always wear gloves when handling strong bases. I got some strong solvent in my eyes once and I was blind for a couple days, so I’m pretty cautious now when it comes to my eyes.

How powerful?  10%  :smiley:

I’ve gotten 75% on my hands and it started irritating them instantly, but I didn’t get a burn.  I would stay on the safe side and use caution/ wear gloves if you have them.

I would disagree. Phosphoric acid is a much stronger acid than acetic. That said, if you get some on your hands nothing will happen if you wash your hands within a minute or so. Don’t believe the movies where they show acid eating away concrete and stuff within seconds. There are strong acids as well as super-acids, but they’re not something you’ll ever get your hands on in homebrewing. I’ve had concentrated sulfuric acid spill on my hand and it took about a minute to start burning my skin. And even that was slow. Feels kinda like a burn from putting pure mustard paste on your skin… then your skin flakes off. Anyway, you’re in no danger. Just don’t spill it into your eyes and wash your hands.

[u]MSDS for Phosphoric Acid 10%[/u]

Yep, pretty much a standard one for any corrosive