Abstract: A composition and process for selectively removing nickel-iron alloys from a metal substrate which comprises contacting said metal surface with an aqueous bath containing:A. at least one nitro substituted organic compound containing at least one solubilizing group;B. at least one organic amine or polyamine or substituted amine or polyamine; andC. at least one aliphatic carboxylic acid or salt thereof, or a compound which will yield said carboxylic acid or salt thereof in solution, further characterized in that said aliphatic carboxylic acid or salt thereof additionally contains at least one substituent group selected from -NH.sub.2 or quaternary amine salts thereof, -OH, or -SH.By nickel-iron alloy deposit is meant a deposit containing from about 5 to 90 percent by weight iron with that portion which is not iron being primarily nickel or nickel and cobalt. Although small amounts of impurities such as copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, etc.