Substance profile
Sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is colorless, oily liquid and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Sulfuric acid is
Sulfuric acid is colorless, oily liquid and is odorless. Its molecular formula is H2O4S and its molecular weight is 98.08 g/mol. It boils at 337 °C, melts at 10.3 °C, is miscible with water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as carcinogens.
Other names for Sulfuric acid
- battery acid
- oil of vitriol
- H2SO4
- Bov
- Chamber Acid
- Contact Acid
- Dihydrogen Sulfate
- Dipping Acid
- Fertilizer Acid
- Hydrogen Sulfate
- Matting Acid
- Nordhausen Acid
- Spent Sulfuric Acid
- Spirit Of Sulfur
- Sulfuric Acid (Aerosol Forms Only)
- sulphuric acid ... %
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Sulfuric acid properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 337 °C (638.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 290 °C (554 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 290 °C (554 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | 10.31 °C (50.6 °F) | HSDB | |
| 10.56 °C (51 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 10.36 °C (50.6 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 1.8302 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 1.84 g/cm³ | NIOSH | ||
| 1.841 g/cm³ | CAMEO | ||
| Solubility | Miscible with water and alcohol with the generation of much heat and with contraction in volume. | HSDB | |
| Miscible | NIOSH | ||
| Miscible (NIOSH, 2024) | CAMEO | ||
| Vapor pressure | 0.001 mmHg | NIOSH | |
| 0.0000593 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Autoignition temperature | Not flammable (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO | |
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Risk of fire and explosion on contact with base(s), combustible substances, oxidants, reducing agents or water. | HSDB | |
| Noncombustible Liquid, but capable of igniting finely divided combustible materials. | NIOSH | ||
| Vapor density | 3.4 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| Odor threshold | Threshold for odor= 1.0 mg/cu m, Irritating concn= 1.1 mg/cu m | HSDB | |
| Odor Threshold Low: 0.15 [mg/m3] | Haz-Map | ||
| Odor threshold from AIHA | Haz-Map | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 655 °C (1211 °F) | HSDB | |
| Corrosivity | Strongly corrosive | HSDB | |
| Concentrated acid is non-corrosive to lead and mild steel but dilute acid attacks most metals | HSDB | ||
| Corrosion data for ASTM Grade 2 Titanium: Boiling sulfuric acid at a concentration of 1% by weight had a corrosion rate of 2.5 mm/yr. | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Sulfuric acid
Storage conditions
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Incompatible materials: Bases, halides, organic materials, carbides, fulminates, nitrates, picrates, cyanides, chlorates, alkali halides, zinc salts, permanganates, e.g. potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, azides, perchlorates, nitromethane, phosphorous; Reacts violently with: cyclopentadiene, cyclopentanone oxime, nitroaryl amines, hexalithium disilicide, phosphorous(iii) oxide, powdered metals.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
SULFURIC ACID, SPENT is diluted and partly neutralized sulfuric acid recovered from industrial use. Likely to contain multiple impurities. Reacts an an acid and as a weak oxidizing agent. Chars wood and most other organic matter, but is unlikely to cause a fire. Zinc iodide reacts violently with H2SO4. (Pascal, 1962, Vol. 5, 168).
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Sulfuric acid in the storage compatibility matrix →
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