Corrosive
Definition
A poison that destroys tissue at the point of contact by acid, alkali or oxidising action. Concentrated H2SO4, HCl, HNO3 and NaOH are the classic corrosives seen in Indian acid-attack and accidental ingestion cases.
- Mechanism
- Destroys tissue at point of contact
- Chemical types
- Acid, alkali, or oxidising action
- Classic examples
- H2SO4, HCl, HNO3, NaOH
- Common Indian context
- Acid-attack and accidental ingestion cases
Common questions
How does a corrosive poison differ from other poison classes in autopsy findings?+
A corrosive produces visible local tissue destruction along the path of contact, such as burns to the lips, mouth, and oesophagus in ingestion cases, whereas systemic poisons act after absorption and leave little or no local damage at the point of entry.
Why do concentrated acids and alkalis both fall under the same corrosive classification despite opposite chemistry?+
Both destroy tissue directly through chemical reaction rather than through absorption and systemic toxicity, so they are grouped by mechanism of local injury even though acids cause coagulative necrosis and alkalis cause liquefactive necrosis.
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