An acid attack , also called acid throwing , vitriol attack , or
vitriolage , is a form of violent assault involving the act of throwing
acid or a similarly corrosive substance onto the body of another "with the
intention to disfigure, maim, torture, or kill". Perpetrators of these attacks
throw corrosive liquids at their victims, usually at their faces, burning
them, and damaging skin tissue, often exposing and sometimes dissolving the
bones. Acid attacks can lead to permanent, partial or complete blindness.
The most common types of acid used in these attacks are sulfuric and nitric
acid. Hydrochloric acid is sometimes used but is much less damaging.