✗ The myth everyone repeats
Stomach acid is so powerful that it can dissolve almost anything, including metal or bone, within minutes.
✓ What is actually true
While stomach acid (pH ~1.5-3.5) is strong enough to break down most foods and even some non-food items, it doesn't dissolve everything indiscriminately. Stomach tissue is protected by a mucus lining that prevents self-digestion. Many objects pass through the stomach intact. Stones, glass, and most metals resist dissolution.
Reception
The receipts 2 sources
- Smithsonian Magazine: Stomach AcidREFERENCE
- Khan Academy: DigestionREFERENCE