sulphuric acid

British

noun

Systematic name: sulphuric(VI) acid. a colourless dense oily corrosive liquid produced by the reaction of sulphur trioxide with water and used in accumulators and in the manufacture of fertilizers, dyes, and explosives. Formula: H 2 SO 4

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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Roughly half the world’s sulphuric acid is used to make phosphate fertilizers, while about 10% is used for metal processing, Dhar says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Products passing through the giant site range from insulin capsules and lifestyle drugs to medicated sunblock and drums of sulphuric acid.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

“We have gathered to say no to those who offer concentrated sulphuric acid instead of raspberries and honey.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2021

When requesting some purchases of sulphuric acid, Hashem claimed the chemical was needed to fill a car battery or a generator in Libya, but he lacked the necessary money and therefore needed a favour.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2020

The general facts concerning the Wehnelt break are that the electrolyte must be dilute sulphuric acid in the proportion of one of acid to five or ten of water.

From Hertzian Wave Wireless Telegraphy by Fleming, John Ambrose

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023