Acid cleaners and degreasers are often made from chemical compounds based in phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, or hydrofluoric acid and are typically formulated as aqueous solutions. These solutions utilize specific wetting agents that enhance the cleaning of the metal and the rinsing away of particulates, while the acid goes to work removing rust, oxidation, scale, and other difficult to remove contaminants. The level of cleaning and contaminant removal by an acid cleaner or degreaser will weigh heavily on the type of acid, pH level, level of concentration, and wetting agents involved.