Sulfuric acid is a dense, colorless, oily, and corrosive liquid. It is soluble in water with the release of heat and is highly corrosive towards other materials, from rocks to metals, since it is an oxidant with powerful dehydrating 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−). In dilute solutions, the hydrogen sulfate ions also dissociate, forming more hydronium ions and sulfate ions (SO42−) .
Positive aspects of sulfuric acid:
- It is a very important commodity chemical and a key substance in the chemical industry.
- It is widely produced with different methods, such as the contact process, wet sulfuric acid process, lead chamber process, and some other methods.
- Its primary industrial use is to make phosphoric acid, which is a main ingredient in most chemical fertilizers.
Negative aspects of sulfuric acid:
- It is highly corrosive towards other materials, from rocks to metals.
- It causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
- It is a hazardous chemical that requires proper handling and storage.
Ingredients or materials:
- Sulfuric acid is composed of the elements sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen.
- It is prepared industrially by the reaction of water with sulfur trioxide, which in turn is made by chemical combination of sulfur dioxide and oxygen either by the contact process or the chamber process.
