H2SO4
Science & Engineering abbreviation · Chemistry
| Stands for | Sulfuric acid |
|---|---|
| Categories | Science & Engineering |
H2SO4 stands for Sulfuric acid, a chemistry abbreviation.
Dense, oily, strongly acidic liquid produced in larger quantities than any other industrial chemical, so its output has long served as an indicator of industrial activity. Most goes into phosphate fertilizers, with further uses in lead-acid car batteries, metal processing, oil refining and drain cleaners.
Example: The car battery's electrolyte is dilute H2SO4, so wear goggles when checking it.
Usage notes
Historically called oil of vitriol. Modern plants make it by the contact process, oxidizing sulfur dioxide over a vanadium catalyst. Concentrated sulfuric acid dehydrates sugar into a rising column of black carbon, a classic demonstration, and causes severe burns made worse by the heat it releases on contact with moisture.
Related abbreviations
More chemistry abbreviations
- FTIR – Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
- GC – Gas chromatography
- GC-MS – Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
- GHS – Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of…
- H2O – Water
- H2O2 – Hydrogen peroxide
- HCFC – Hydrochlorofluorocarbon
- HCl – Hydrochloric acid
- HDPE – High-density polyethylene
- HFC – Hydrofluorocarbon
- HOMO – Highest occupied molecular orbital
- HPLC – High-performance liquid chromatography