Question

oxalic acid sometimes used to clean rust stains from skins and bathtubs. the cleansing action is based on

Answer 1

Actually, this acid is often used when preparing to stain old wood floors. ... You can use oxalic acid to remove most stains found on stone, brick, ... found in commercial rust removers for sinks, tubs, and metal rust stains.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Oxalic acid or ethandioic acid reacts with rust to give water soluble complex which makes washing of removal of rust from the bucket or skin feasible.

$6C_2H_2O_4+Fe_2O_3\rightarrow 2[Fe(C_2O_4)_3]^{3-}+6H^++3H_2O$

6 moles of oxalic acid reacts with 1 mol of rust to give 6 mol of iron complex which soluble in water.