Sulphuric Acid is a highly corrosive and oily liquid commonly used in many industries. The spelling of this word may appear confusing due to the difference in spelling between British English and American English. In British English, the spelling of the word contains the letter 'ph' which is pronounced as /f/ as seen in the IPA phonetic transcription (/ˌsʌlfjʊˈrɪk/), while in American English, the letter 'ph' is replaced with 'f' resulting in the spelling sulfuric acid.
Sulphuric acid is a highly corrosive and dense liquid chemical compound with the formula H2SO4. It is also known as sulfuric acid and dihydrogen sulfate. With a molecular weight of 98.09 g/mol, it is composed of two hydrogen atoms, one sulphur atom, and four oxygen atoms.
Sulphuric acid is one of the strongest and widely used mineral acids. It is a viscous and colorless liquid with a pungent and suffocating odor. The acid is produced by the contact process, which involves the reaction between sulphur dioxide and oxygen, followed by the dissolution of the resulting sulphur trioxide in water.
This acid is an essential component in many industrial processes and applications. As a powerful dehydrating agent, it can remove water molecules from compounds. It is commonly used in the production of fertilizers, detergents, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in the manufacturing of various materials such as metals, plastics, and synthetic fibers.
Sulphuric acid is highly reactive and can cause severe burns and corrosion on contact with organic matter and living tissues. Consequently, it must be handled with extreme caution and under appropriate safety measures. Moreover, it requires careful storage due to its corrosive nature.
In summary, sulphuric acid is a strong and commonly used mineral acid with various industrial applications. Its chemical properties and corrosive nature make it a critical component in numerous manufacturing processes.
Acidum sulphuricum.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
A powerful acid formed by one equivalent of sulphur combined with three of oxygen, much used in the arts and in medicine, popularly called oil of vitriol.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "sulphuric acid" has its roots in the Latin language. The term "sulphuric" is derived from the Latin word "sulfuricum", which originates from the Latin word "sulfur", meaning sulfur. The word "sulfur" itself can be traced back to the Sanskrit word "śulbāri", meaning "sulphur". Additionally, the word "acid" comes from the Latin word "acidus", which means sour. Therefore, the term "sulphuric acid" can be understood as "sour sulfur", indicating the acidic and corrosive nature of this compound.