Sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid (American spelling) or sulphuric acid (British spelling), also known as oil of vitriol, is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulfur, oxygen and hydrogen, with molecular formula H₂SO₄. It is a colorless, odorless, and syrupy liquid that is soluble in water, in a reaction that is highly exothermic.

Properties

Sulfuric acid is a very strong acid and in aqueous solutions it ionizes completely to form hydronium ions (H₃O⁺) and hydrogen sulfate ions (HSO₄^-). If a strong enough concentration is present, it can also ionize the hydrogen sulfate ions to form hydronium ions and sulfate ions (SO₄^2-).

Production

Sulfuric acid is produced from sulfur, oxygen and water via the contact process. In the first step, sulfur is burned to produce sulfur dioxide. This is then oxidized to sulfur trioxide using oxygen in the presence of a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst. Finally, the sulfur trioxide is treated with water to produce sulfuric acid.

Uses

Sulfuric acid has many applications, and is one of the top products of the chemical industry. Primary uses for sulfuric acid include lead-acid batteries for cars and other vehicles, ore processing, fertilizer manufacturing, oil refining, wastewater processing, and chemical synthesis.

Safety

Contact with sulfuric acid can cause burns, permanent blindness if it contacts eyes, and can be fatal if swallowed or inhaled. Appropriate safety measures should be taken when handling sulfuric acid.

See also

• Contact process
• Lead-acid battery
• Vanadium(V) oxide

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