sulfuric acid

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a clear, colorless to brownish, dense, oily, corrosive, water-miscible liquid, H 2 SO 4 , usually produced from sulfur dioxide: used chiefly in the manufacture of fertilizers, chemicals, explosives, and dyestuffs and in petroleum refining.

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sulfuric acid Scientific  

1. A strong corrosive acid. It combines very easily with water, making it a good drying agent. Sulfuric acid is the most widely used acid in industry. It is used to make detergents, dyes, drugs, explosives, pigments, fertilizers, and many other products. It is also the acid in lead-acid electric batteries. Chemical formula: H ₂ SO ₄ .

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Etymology

Origin of sulfuric acid

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

That’s raising questions about alternative routes to get sulfuric acid out of the Middle East, said Edward Meir, an analyst at Marex.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

In addition to sulfur, roughly half of the world’s seaborne supply of sulfuric acid also comes from the Middle East, according to the report from the Congressional Research Service.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

While the Chinese copper producer sells 20% of its sulfuric acid output under a price cap to the fertilizer industry, the remainder is sold across sectors without pricing restrictions, the analyst notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Users don’t usually keep much sulfuric acid on hand because it requires careful handling and special tanks for storage, Sinha said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

However, the surface of the planet is a scorching 467 degrees Celsius, the ground is barren and rocky, and clouds of sulfuric acid roam the atmosphere.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson