Properties of Sulfuric Acid

Obtaining data on the chemical and toxicological properties of sulfuric acid... 

Values taken from S. Glasstone. Thermodynamics for Chemists. D. Van Nostrand Company Inc., Toronto, p. 443 (1947). The values tabulated in this reference were taken from D. N. Craig and G. W. Vinal, J. Res. Natl. Bur. Stand.. Thermodynamic Properties of Sulfuric Acid Solutions and Their Relation to the Electromotive Force and Heat of Reaction of the Lead Storage Battery", 24, 475-490 (1940). More recent values at the higher molality can be found in W. F. Giauque. E. W. Hornung. J. E. Kunzler and T. R. Rubin, The Thermodynamic Properties of Aqueous Sulfuric Acid Solutions and Hydrates from 15 to 300° K", J. Am. Chem. Soc.. 82, 62-70 (1960). 

This is a chemical reaction. The fact that iron reacts when it comes into contact with sulfuric acid is a chemical property of iron. Conversely, the ability of sulfuric acid to affect iron is a chemical property of sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid and iron are called reactants in the above equation, and the iron sulfate and hydrogen are the products of the reaction. 

The physical properties of sulfuric acid are listed in Table 10.3. The dielectric constant is even higher than that of water, making it a good solvent for ionic substances and leading to extensive autoionization. The high viscosity, some 25 times that of water, introduces experimental difficulties Solutes are slow to dissolve and slow to crystallize. It is also difficult to remove adhering solvent from crystallized materials. Furthermore, solvent that has not drained from prepared crystals is not reudily removed by evaporation because of the very low vapor pressure of sulfuric acid... 

The oxidizing properties of sulfuric acid depend on its concentration and temperature. In dilute solutions at room temperature, H2S04 behaves like HC1, oxidizing metals that stand above hydrogen in the activity series (Table 4.3, page 132) ... 

The usual sulfonating agent is concentrated sulfuric acid, but sulfur trioxide, chlorosulfonic acid, metallic sulfates, and sulfamic acid are also occasionally used. However, because of the nature and properties of sulfuric acid, it is desirable to use it for nucleophilic substitution wherever possible. 

One remarkable property of sulfuric acid is its great affinity for water. For example, when it is mixed with sugar, it dehydrates the sugar (takes the water out) and forms a column of black carbon (see Fig. 19.22). Because of this high affinity for water, sulfuric acid is often used as a drying agent in the production of explosives, dyes, detergents, and various anhydrous (water-free) materials. 

The acidic properties of sulfuric acid solutions are discussed in Section 7.7. 

Sulfuric acid can be found in many strengths and formulations. Toxicological and chemical properties of sulfuric acid solutions are dependent on the sulfuric acid content of the solution. For example, solutions containing less than 10% sulfuric acid are highly irritating, while solutions containing more than 10% sulfuric acid are corrosive. Sulfuric acid solutions used in industry can be up to 98% in concentration, while consumer products such as toilet bowl cleaners may contain up to 8% sulfuric acid. 

Steele, H.M., and P. Hamill, Effects of temperature and humidity on the growth and optical properties of sulfuric acid-water droplets in the stratosphere. J Atmos Set IS, 517, 1981. 

Table 8.6 Selected physical properties of sulfuric acid, H2SO4...

FIGURE 10.13 Properties of sulfuric acid-water droplets. 

PROPERTIES OF SULFURIC ACID Values at 20°C specific gravity is referred to water at 4°C... 

Properties of Large Production and Priority Organic Pollutants Properties of Sulfuric Acid Properties of Timgsten... 

Ariza MJ, Jones DJ, Roziere J (2002) Role of post-sulfonation thermal treatment in conducting and thermal properties of sulfuric acid sulfonated poly(benziraidazole) membranes . Desalination 147 183. 

The properties of sulfuric acid with different specific gravity are shown in Tables 1.8,1.9, and 1.10. 

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