Here's a quick and easy experiment you can do that will demonstrate how acids can be used to clean metal. Pour about 2 inches (5 cm) of a cola drink into a disposable cup (make sure that the cola lists phosphoric acid in the ingredients). Drop a dirty penny (made of copper) it into the cola and let it sit for a few days. When you take the penny out, you will see that it has become very shiny? Where did the dull brown coating from the penny go?
You've seen new pennies, and you know that they are bright and shiny. But with time, the copper metal in the coins combines with oxygen from the air and forms a dull coating of copper oxide). The acid reacts with the copper oxide and forms copper phosphate, which does not stick to the penny's surface. So when you remove the penny from the cola, you have clean, shiny metal again.
One final thing - do not drink the cola after you're done with it. It contains dissolved copper, which is not good for you.
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