# Coke in aluminum cans???

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-in-aluminum-cans/313833>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [July 23, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-in-aluminum-cans/313833 "2005-07-23T19:35:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![renato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/858c86/32.png) [@renato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renato)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-in-aluminum-cans/313833/1 "2005-07-23T19:35:51Z")

</div>

In this article  
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_121a.html](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???

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-in-aluminum-cans/313833/2 "2005-07-23T20:35:51Z")

</div>

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.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![renato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/858c86/32.png) [@renato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renato)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2005, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-in-aluminum-cans/313833/3 "2005-07-23T21:32:29Z")

</div>

> [@Duke of Rat](#):
>
> 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.

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

thanks!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coke-in-aluminum-cans/313833/4 "2005-07-25T20:38:13Z")

</div>

> [@Duke of Rat](#):
>
> We used to dissolve aluminum cans in caustic solution ( sodium hydroxide IIRC)

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