Coke in aluminum cans???

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
1

In this article
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_121a.html

Cecil sez that ketchup dissolves aluminum because ketchup is acidic and aluminum gives up its electrons readily to acidic solutions.

He also notes that Coca-Cola is even more acidic than ketchup.

OK wise guy, how can they put Coke in aluminum cans then, without the soda dissolving the container???

2

We used to dissolve aluminum cans in caustic solution ( sodium hydroxide IIRC), there is a plastic lining in the cans. A little bag of plastic would be all left after the can was gone, and the cans wouldn’t dissolve by pouring caustic into them without first scratching the lining.

3

aaaahhhhhh… i kinda thought it was something like that. Surprised Cecil didn’t address this begged question in the original column

thanks!

4

Sorry if this is hijack, but why did you dissolve aluminum cans? Aside from the obvious entertainment value?