I've got a "stink pot" of molasses water out back. I don't think it's
phosphoric acid that's doing the job. I could go do a PH test, but I've got
a few other reasons for not thinking it's phosphoric acid.
It works best when fresh, not when old. With a few months of rot (and it's
rotting, not fermenting), it slows way down. The surface appearance of the
metals is different than when soaked in phosphoric acid. There's a brick
red stage, and a blue/grey final stage. Phosphoric acid tends to leave a
coal black surface. There is no reaction on other metals (brass, copper,
solder). Phosphoric acid tends to bloom those metals.
Boy is it a slow process!
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