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

See Examples For:

sulfuric acid

There, dark and bright features sweep across the planet's upper sulfuric acid clouds.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

Simple organic compounds placed in concentrated sulfuric acid can react to form dark and chemically complex "tar-like" mixtures.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026

Contributing to supply-side issues, China started restricting its exports of sulfuric acid in May, according to the Wall Street Journal.

From MarketWatch ● May 12, 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