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The chemical formula of Sulphuric acid is H2SO4. It is a mineral acid produced widely due to its generalised uses. It is the constituent of two atoms of hydrogen, one atom of sulphur, and four oxygen atoms. It should be handled with care as it is a very concentrated acid, and when it reacts with water to make it dilute, it releases the heat fumes indicating that it shows exothermic reactions.
Uses of sulphuric acid
There are various sectors in which sulphuric acid is used. This includes uses in agriculture, explosives manufacturing, domestic environments, as a catalyst, metallurgy, batteries, laboratory reagents, and many more.
A significant amount of heat is created when sulphuric acid is added to water; hence, water should not be added to the acid in the reverse procedure since the heat released may cause the solution to boil. Hot acid droplets will be sprayed in the process, posing a hazard. When sulphuric acid comes into contact with bodily tissue, it can cause severe acidic chemical burns, dehydration, and secondary thermal burns. Dilute sulphuric acid is far less dangerous since it lacks the oxidative and dehydrating effects, yet, it should be carefully handled because of its acidity.
Uses of sulphuric acid in industries
Sulphuric acid has the highest importance in industrial use. It is helpful in various industries like the chemical industry, fertiliser industry, paint manufacturing, and dyes manufacturing. It is also used in drug production. Sulphuric acid is used in making various other chemicals such as nitric acid, diethyl ether, hydrochloric acid, bisulphites, phosphoric acid, sulphates, etc. Sulphuric acid is used in making detergents, cleaning metal for plating, the pulp and paper business and in several lab experiment methods and synthesis.
Uses of sulphuric acid in domestic environments
Sulphuric acid has a corrosive nature, and because of it, domestically, it is helpful in the cleaning of surfaces that are usually getting dirty quickly, such as toilets, bathrooms, etc. When sulphuric acid reacts with water, it produces heat; hence, it is helpful in cleaning clogged drains. Its highly concentrated nature can destroy or degrade organic materials such as grease, hairs, etc., which block the water flow.
Uses of sulphuric acid in batteries
In lead-acid batteries, sulphuric acid is used as an electrolyte. Because of the reaction with sulphuric acid, lead sulphate forms on both electrodes during the discharge of lead-acid batteries. Lead sulphate is transformed to lead and lead oxide when the battery is charged by releasing sulphuric acid into the electrolyte.
Uses of sulphuric acid in agriculture
Sulphuric acid is used to produce fertilisers of lime and ammonium phosphate. It is also used in the production of nitrogen fertilisers, which increase the yield of crops. The fertilisers formed from sulphuric acid produce highly nutritious crops. It increases the revenue of farmers, which helps in the cultivation of better crops, and the need for sulphuric acid increases. The main reason for the increasing demand for sulphuric acid is industrialisation.
Uses of sulphuric acid as a catalyst
Some reactions need a catalyst to increase the rate of reaction. Sulphuric acid is also used as a catalyst. A sulphuric acid catalyst is used to synthesise nylon. A sulphuric acid catalyst is a chemical molecule combining hydrogen, sulphur, and oxygen that drastically speeds up a reaction by lowering its activation energy despite being present in small amounts.
Other uses of sulphuric acid
In the manufacture of explosives: When sulphuric acid mixes with nitric acid, it forms a nitrating mixture, and it is used for nitration of organic compounds, and the nitration process is used for the production of gunpowder, dynamite, picric acid, etc.
In metallurgy: Metallurgic industries in which metals like copper and silver are extracted from their ores using sulphuric acid.
In pickling: Pickling means cleaning. Sulphuric acid is used in cleaning the surface of metals before enamelling, electroplating, and galvanising.
In petroleum refining: Crude petroleum is reacted with sulphuric acid to remove unnecessary sulphur and other toxic compounds.
Conclusion
Sulphuric acid has a highly concentrated nature and possesses various uses through which it is useful in various sectors. It is used in various industries, in metallurgy, in batteries, as a laboratory reagent, and many more. A sulphuric acid catalyst is used to synthesise nylon.Sulphuric acid is used in cleaning the surface of metals before enamelling. Sulphuric acid is used in making detergents, cleaning metal for plating, the pulp and paper business and in several lab experiments.
