yes Denny, diluted enough it's used in many food products, like Coke and other colas, which is why what's most common is "food grade" - some might say it's the part that rots your teeth, rather than the sugar
folks you've heard all those stories from about electrolysis are blowing smoke, it's a
specific simple process, using a small amount of sodium carbonate [commonly sold as washing soda in stores] in water, and in a pinch sodium bi-carbonate can be used, although it is slower ... a molasses or vinegar bath is a different animal [acids], and the soda pop is just weak [food grade] phosphoric acid
try the real thing, it's easy and works well and comes clean with the same water rinse you use with the phosphoric acid, the only caveat about the battery charger to use is it can't be one of the fancy new ones that sense the battery condition, what you want is basically just a 12V power supply, no high current needed - I use a vintage little charger I've had for years that was previously used as a power supply for a mobile radio base station - 24 hours will take care of all but the worst corrosion, which may take longer - the nice thing is no worry about leaving it too long, no effect on the base metal unlike phosphoric acid
as for disposing of the solutions, I hope you don't think your phosphoric solutions and the residue in it is readily dumped anywhere - with the soda solution it's easy to filter out the particulate leaving a very benign sodium solution
Bill
