system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Is hydrofluoric acid strong enough to destroy dna?

I know certain acids like hydrofluoric acid can be used to chemically dissolve organic matter, but is it strong enough to destroy the DNA of that organic matter beyond the ability to use it for identification purposes?

This question came to me while watching season one of Breaking Bad, when Walter and Jesse are looking to dissolve a body in acid. It would certainly help with hiding the body, but I'd wondered if those remains were found, would law enforcement be able to use whatever DNA was left for matching purposes.
gpt
Hydrofluoric acid isn't a strong acid- it's pKa is 3.17. The tissue damage primarily comes from the fluoride. So no, it isn't a strong enough *acid* to destroy DNA... But fluoride does not discriminate. Given enough time and fluoride, it can damage DNA beyond identification.