Ammonium Thioglycolate and Metals

Name: Daro
Status: student
Grade: 9-12
Location: FL

Question: Metals are incompatible with ammonium thioglycolate. So how can aluminum 
foil be used in wrapping a hair perm?
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I am not sure that all metals are incompatible with ammonium thioglycolate under 
all conditions.
However, assuming that is the case for aluminum the most likely reason, I suspect 
that the aluminum has been coated with a protective clear coating such as an epoxy 
film. This is the technique commonly used for aluminum cans used for beer, beverages 
and other reactive products to protect the product from "metallic" taste, and to 
protect the aluminum from attack by the reactive product.

Vince Calder
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