Corrosives can be broken down into which two categories?

• A. Acids and bases
• B. Oxidizers and reducers
• C. Metals and nonmetals
• D. Salts and acids

Answer: (A)

Corrosives are categorized by chemical behavior as acids and bases. Acids donate protons in solution and tend to cause damage by lowering pH and reacting aggressively with metals and tissue. Bases, often called caustics, accept protons or release hydroxide ions and can also cause severe caustic burns. This acid–base split is the most practical way to think about how corrosives behave and how to handle them safely, plan neutralization if needed, and choose appropriate PPE. Examples include sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid as acids, and sodium hydroxide or ammonia as bases. The other pairings—oxidizers and reducers, metals and nonmetals, or salts and acids—do not define corrosives in the same, widely used sense.