the.com/oxalic acid
the molecule that makes rhubarb leaves lethal and rust stains vanish.
means a simple organic acid, two carboxyl groups back to back, found naturally in plants and used industrially as a bleach, rust remover, and metal cleaner.
from named from the Greek oxalis, wood sorrel, the plant chemists first isolated it from in the 18th century, its leaves famously sour with the stuff.
rhubarb dangerleaves concentrate enough to be genuinely toxic
kidney stonesbinds calcium, forms the most common stone type
spinach ironyblocks calcium absorption despite spinach's iron reputation
industrial usestrips rust and bleaches wood without harsh chlorine