Did Hannibal Dissolving Boulders with Vinegar?

Hannibal's solution was to light fires to heat up the rocks and pour vinegar into cracks of the hot rocks. Once the acid supposedly weakened the rocks, his troops were able to break them apart.

How did Hannibal dissolve boulders with vinegar?

The sour wine had an acidic content similar to that of vinegar. Pouring the acidic substance over the red hot boulders caused them to fissure all over (Prevas 84). The rocks thus weakened, Hannibal's men were able to break them with hammers and picks until even the elephants could pass through.

Can vinegar break rocks?

What should have happened: Lemon juice and vinegar are both weak acids. The lemon juice contains citric acid and the vinegar contains acetic acid. These mild acids can dissolve rocks that contain calcium carbonate.