Sale of concentrated acid regulated - Crime analyst
SHAH ALAM - There is no prohibition for the public to purchase strong acids sold in the market for specific purposes, but it is regulated under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.
Crime analyst Kamal Affandi Hashim said people were required to provide their names and identities when purchasing these chemicals which were commonly sold at metal hardware stores.
"According to the regulations set for controlled substances, strong acids need to be displayed and stored in a locked cabinet. If someone wants to buy it, they need to call the salesperson and fill in their name in the provided book as a purchase record," he told Sinar.
The topic of acids has become a concern after a recent incident involving national football player Faisal Halim, who was attacked with concentrated sulfuric acid at a shopping centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, last Sunday.
As a result of the incident, the Selangor FC star winger suffered fourth-degree burns on his face and several parts of his body.
Kamal also explained that strong acids fully dissociate in water into hydrogen ions, while weak acids only partially dissociate.
He cited examples of strong acids such as hydrochloric, nitric and sulfuric acids, commonly used in manufacturing industries for etching aluminium sheets and removing coatings and paint.
He said acids were generally divided into two types which were strong and weak acids, each with various industrial and everyday life applications.
"So with strong acids, they can cause severe burns up to fourth-degree and they are powerful enough to dissolve body tissues and bones, which can lead to death," he said.
Kamal added that weak acids, like carbonic acids were usually used for cleaning and bleaching.
"However, the effects of weak acids are not as severe as those of strong acids. If they come into contact with the skin, they may cause itching and if inhaled, their vapours can affect the respiratory system, causing difficulty breathing," he said.