pearls melt in vinegar

layman:
oooooh! um, is that really true?

chemist:
yes, vinegar reacts with pearls, according to :
CaCO3 + 2HAc -> Ca(Ac)2 + C02 + H20
How fast this happens depends on a number of factors like concentration of acid, surface exposed to reaction, temperature, agitation, etc. I believe that the term MELT was employed in a common sense for a layman.


yes, a layman. a romantic, poetic, visceral image-loving layman.