How corrosive is human stomach acid?

Gastric juices secreted by specialized cells lining pits in the wall of the stomach. Gastric juice contains an enzyme called pepsin that digests protein. It also contains hydrochloric acid and water. The hydrochloric acid is very strong and is needed to help kill bacteria that may cause illness and provides acid conditions in which pepsin works quickly.

On a scale of acidity called the pH scale, the acid secretions from the stomach wall are between pH 0.8 and pH 1.0. This makes the secretions so strong that, if bottled, they would be too dangerous to have on an open shelf in a school laboratory and would have to be labelled ‘corrosive’. This is strong enough normally to destroy human tissues on contact. The stomach is protected against damage from the acid by a lining of mucus, unless a person suffers from an ulcer.

Comments

Wow! Thanks Sweet. I did think it was quite strong. I just didn't realise just HOW strong. A knife in the stomach wouldn't be very good then eh?
- Report
by Gone. on August 14th, 2008
I am thinking that would be a bad thing, LOL.
- Report
by Sweet T on August 14th, 2008
It's also quite amazing how the stomach isn't affected by it. Ok it says in your answer, the mucus in the stomach stops any damage. But still!
- Report
by Gone. on August 14th, 2008
I love the new pics on your profile Sweet :)
- Report
by Gone. on August 14th, 2008
Thanks, I have doing a lot of four wheeling lately.
- Report
by Sweet T on August 14th, 2008
You want to see my headlights?

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/890699
- Report
by Sweet T on August 14th, 2008
Hahaha! I can't see them. Remember I don't have Firefox!
- Report
by Gone. on August 14th, 2008
*Slaps self in the forehead* DUH! ROTF!!!
- Report
by Sweet T on August 14th, 2008