Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) contains sulfur, oxygen, hydrogen and other elements. It is called oil of sulfate or oil of hydrogen sulfate. From a commercial point of view, it is one of the most important chemicals. Water reacts with sulfur trioxide to form the product sulfuric acid. Sulfur trioxide is produced by a chemical combination of sulfur dioxide and oxygen or by the chamber process. In nature, pure sulfuric acid does not exist because of its strong affinity for water. It is available in different concentrations for different applications.
The molecular formula of sulfuric acid is H2SO4. It has one sulfur atom, four oxygens bonded to the sulfur atom and two hydrogens bonded to two oxygens. Two oxygens are linked to sulfur by double bonds, and two hydroxyl groups are linked by single bonds. It is an oxidizing acid of sulfur. According to VSEPR theory, the structure is arranged in such a way that there is minimal repulsion between lone and bond pairs. Its molecular weight is 98.079 g/mol. Sulfuric acid concentration is 1.83g/cm3. It has a boiling point of 337℃ and a melting point of 10℃.
Some uses of sulfuric acid are listed below.
Fertilizer: Sulfuric acid is used in large quantities to make phosphoric acid, which is used to make phosphate fertilizer.
Medicine: It is used as a solvent in the chemical synthesis of various chemicals, including active pharmaceutical ingredients. An active pharmaceutical ingredient made from sulfuric acid is an alkylating agent, often used in chemotherapy (cancer treatment).
Gasoline: Sulfuric acid is also present in CEMS gas samples.
Automotive batteries: Used to make lead-acid batteries. In the automotive industry of cars and trucks, sealed cell lead-acid type batteries are used.
Paper bleaching: In the pulp and paper industry, sulfuric acid is used on site to produce chlorine dioxide, a key bleach in the ECF chemical pulping process.
Water treatment: In wastewater treatment, an acid or base is added according to the pH of the water being treated. Restoring the pH of wastewater to normal with sulfuric acid or alkaline chemicals is a process known as neutralization.
