sulfuric acid

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.

sulfuric acid

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 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulfuric acid¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

It is not cozy like our planet though, since it is mainly made of carbon dioxide and thick clouds of sulfuric acid - more like hot and burning!

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He poured a little sulfuric acid on the mortar between two bricks.

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In secret locations, a mixture of gasoline, baking soda and sulfuric acid is poured on top of shredded coca leaves and processed either in a cement mixer or by stomping on them.

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But up close, Venus is more like an evil twin: it is covered with thick clouds of sulfuric acid, and its surface has a mean temperature close to 500°C.

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By mixing sulfuric acid with agricultural waste, animal waste or sewage, they create a slurry-like substance called biochar, which is rich in carbon.

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