persulfuric acid

[ pur-suhl-fyoor-ik, pur- ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. Also called Caro's acid, permonosulfuric acid, peroxymonosulfuric acid, peroxysulfuric acid. a white, crystalline solid, H 2 SO 5 , used as an oxidizing agent for certain organic compounds.
2. Also called peroxydisulfuric acid. a white, crystalline solid, H 2 S 2 O 8 , used in the manufacture of hydrogen peroxide.

Word History and Origins

Origin of persulfuric acid¹

First recorded in 1880–85; per- + sulfuric