sulfuric acid

sulfuric acid

noun \ˌsəl-ˈfyu̇r-ik-\

Definition of SULFURIC ACID

: a heavy corrosive oily dibasic strong acid H₂SO₄ that is colorless when pure and is a vigorous oxidizing and dehydrating agent

See Usage Discussion at sulfur

Variants of SULFURIC ACID

sulfuric acid or sul·phu·ric acid \ˌsəl-ˈfyu̇r-ik-\

First Known Use of SULFURIC ACID

1788

sulfuric acid

noun    (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SULFURIC ACID

: a heavy corrosive oily dibasic strong acid H₂SO₄ that is colorless when pure and is a vigorous oxidizing and dehydrating agent—see oil of vitriol

sulfuric acid

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Dense, colourless, oily, corrosive liquid inorganic compound (HSO). A very strong acid, it forms ions of hydrogen or hydronium (H⁺ or HO⁺), hydrogen sulfate (HSO), and sulfate (SO²). It is also an oxidizing (see oxidation-reduction) and dehydrating agent and chars many organic materials. It is one of the most important industrial chemicals, used in various concentrations in manufacturing fertilizers, pigments, dyes, drugs, explosives, detergents, and inorganic salts and acids, in petroleum refining and metallurgical processes, and as the acid in lead-acid storage batteries. It is made industrially by dissolving sulfur trioxide (SO) in water, sometimes beyond the saturation point to make oleum (fuming sulfuric acid), used to make certain organic chemicals.

Variants of SULFURIC ACID

sulfuric acid or oil of vitriol