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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
Volcanic ash can bury crops, damage livestock health, contaminate soil, and poison water supplies, while SO2 mixes with water vapor to form sulfuric acid, contributing to acid rain, which damages vegetation, soils, and water bodies.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
On a more technical level, it's made from cellulose fibers that undergo treatment with sulfuric acid or zinc chloride, which partially dissolves the paper's surface to create a barrier that can resist moisture and high temperatures.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2024
Hal would sooner eat a bag of glass for his midafternoon snack and wash it down with a refreshing serving of sulfuric acid, but turning down Nicol the Folk Hero seems impossible at the moment.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
It's made from cellulose fibers that are treated with sulfuric acid or sometimes zinc chloride, which partially dissolves the surface, creating a layer that's resistant to heat and moisture.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1788, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near sulfuric acid
Cite this Entry
“Sulfuric acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sulfuric%20acid. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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
More from Merriam-Webster on sulfuric acid
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sulfuric acid
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