An acid attack is a form of violent attack defined as the act of throwing acid or a similarly corrosive substance onto the body of another “with the intent to maim, torture, or kill.” Perpetrators of these attacks throw corrosive fluids at their victims, usually at their faces, burning them and damaging skin tissue, often exposing and sometimes dissolving the bones. The most common types of acid used in these attacks are sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Hydrochloric acid is sometimes used, but is much less harmful. Aqueous solutions of strongly basic materials, such as caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), are also used, especially in areas where strong acids are controlled substances.