sulphuric acid
Definition
- Noun:
- A highly corrosive, dense, oily liquid acid: Sulphuric acid is a strong, mineral acid with the chemical formula H₂SO₄. It is colorless when pure, but often appears yellow or brown. It is a central substance in industrial chemistry due to its powerful reactivity.
Usage
- Sulphuric acid is a mass noun and is typically used without an indefinite article ("a" or "an"). It is often preceded by definitive articles ("the") or quantifiers ("some," "concentrated").
- The factory produces sulphuric acid for battery manufacturing.
- Handle sulphuric acid with extreme caution.
- They added some concentrated sulphuric acid to the mixture.
Examples
- Noun:
- The laboratory stored the sulphuric acid in a specially designed, corrosion-resistant cabinet.
- The production of fertilizers consumes a large portion of the world's sulphuric acid supply.
- A spill of sulphuric acid requires immediate neutralization with a base.
Advanced Usage
- "Oleum" or "fuming sulphuric acid": This is a solution of sulphur trioxide (SO₃) in sulphuric acid. It is even more reactive and corrosive than concentrated sulphuric acid.
- Oleum is an intermediate in the contact process for making sulphuric acid.
- In technical and industrial contexts, its properties are frequently discussed:
- The dehydrating property of sulphuric acid is used to dry certain gases.
Variants and Related Words
- Sulfuric acid (noun): The standard American English spelling. The word "sulphuric acid" has the same meaning.
- Oil of vitriol (noun): An archaic, historical name for sulphuric acid.
- Battery acid (noun): A common name for the dilute sulphuric acid used in lead-acid batteries.
- Hydrogen sulfate (noun): An alternative systematic chemical name.
Synonyms
- Vitriol (noun, historical/archaic): Refers specifically to sulphuric acid or its dense, oily appearance.
- H₂SO₄ (noun): The chemical formula, used as a technical synonym.
Related Phrases
- Contact process (noun phrase): The modern industrial method for producing sulphuric acid from sulphur.
- Most sulphuric acid is manufactured via the contact process.
- Chamber process (noun phrase): An older, now largely obsolete industrial method for producing sulphuric acid.
Notes on Meaning
- The primary meaning is the specific chemical compound H₂SO₄. It is not used to refer to acids in general. Its defining characteristics are its chemical composition, high corrosiveness, and central role in industrial chemistry.
Noun
-
(H2SO4) a highly corrosive acid made from sulfur dioxide; widely used in the chemical industry
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