sulfuric acid

noun

: a heavy corrosive oily dibasic strong acid H₂SO₄ that is colorless when pure and is a vigorous oxidizing and dehydrating agent

Is it sulfur or sulphur?: Usage Guide

The spelling sulfur predominates in U.S. technical usage, while both sulfur and sulphur are common in general usage. British usage tends to favor sulphur for all applications. The same pattern is seen in most of the words derived from sulfur.

Examples of sulfuric acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Peter and Rose force-seal the vents of the top four floors by setting off a fire inside with sulfuric acid and hand sanitizer, a little lesson Dr. Cole. —Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025

Tests showed the compound contained 10% sulfuric acid, along with sodium perchlorate, which is toxic when ignited, NOAA.gov reports. —Mark Price, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025

Bottles of sulfuric acid were discovered Monday inside a cooler in the unit during an overnight search by the FBI and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the agencies said. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 9 Jan. 2025

Investigators wrote in documents of finding more ominous items that Mr. Jabbar had left behind, including supplies that could be used for an explosive device: acetone, bottles of sulfuric acid and bags labeled as potassium nitrate. —Edgar Sandoval, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sulfuric acid

noun

: a heavy oily strong acid that is colorless when pure and eats away at many solid substances

Medical Definition

sulfuric acid

noun

: a heavy corrosive oily dibasic strong acid H₂SO₄ that is colorless when pure and is a vigorous oxidizing and dehydrating agent see oil of vitriol