|
|
Dictionary definition: sulphuric acid
- Article from:
- A Dictionary of Chemistry
Copyright© A Dictionary of Chemistry 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information)
|
sulphuric acid (
oil of vitriol
)
A colourless oily liquid, H
2
SO
4
; r.d. 1.84; m.p. 10.36°C; b.p. 338°C. The pure acid is rarely used; it is commonly available as a 96–98% solution (m.p. 3.0°C). The compound also forms a range of hydrates: H
2
SO
4
.H
2
O (m.p. 8.62°C); H
2
SO
4
.2H
2
O (m.p. –38/39°C); H
2
SO
4
.6H
2
O (m.p. –54°C); H
2
SO
4
.8H
2
O (m.p. –62°C). Its full systematic name is
tetraoxosulphuric(VI) acid
.
Until the 1930s, sulphuric acid was
manufactured by the
lead-chamber process
, but this has now been replaced by the
contact process
(catalytic oxidation of sulphur dioxide). More sulphuric acid is made in the UK than any other chemical ...