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What cleans a metal(copper, iron, gold, bronze, etc.) chemically? What process?

I am a student in biology and chemistry in a University. And I was wondering what cleans and polishes metals, chemically? It has to do with oxidation and I just want a few answers to answer what SPECIFICLY cleans a metal.(copper, iron, bronze, gold, etc.)

Anything about this topic will do. Thank you for any help you give me, because I really need to know for my college course.

Jack Manny
- Albany, New York, USA

Cleaning and oxidation removal aren't really the same thing, but it would seem that you could chemically remove oxidation in one of two ways: 1). You could chemically dissolve the oxidation into a solution and wash it away, leaving a metallic surface; 2). You could chemically (or electrochemically) reduce the metallic oxides back to metal.

Approach number 1 would generally be simpler; approach number 2 would offer some special capabilities like restoring an ancient coin by making the corrosion clock run backwards.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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