Sulfuric acid

Agent Name
Sulfuric acid
CAS Number
7664-93-9
Formula
H2-O4-S
Major Category
Toxic Gases & Vapors
Sulfuric acid formula graphical representation
Synonyms
Acide sulfurique [French]; Acido solforico [Italian]; Acido sulfurico [Spanish]; Acidum sulfuricum; BOV; Battery acid; Dihydrogen sulfate; Dipping acid; Electrolyte acid; Hydrogen sulfate; Mattling acid; Oil of vitreol; Oil of vitriol; Schwefelsaeure; Schwefelsaeureloesungen [German]; Sulfuric acid; Sulphuric acid; Vitriol Brown Oil; Zwavelzuuroplossingen [Dutch]; [ChemIDplus] UN1830; UN1832; UN2796
Category
Acids, Inorganic
Description
Colorless to dark-brown, oily, odorless liquid. [Note: Pure compound is a solid below 51 degrees F. Often used in an aqueous solution.]; [NIOSH]
Sources/Uses
Used in the fertilizer, petroleum refining, and battery industries; also used in metal cleaning and electroplating; [ACGIH] Used in printing, publishing, and photography shops; [ATSDR ToxFAQs] Used as a wet etchant in semiconductor manufacturing at a standard concentration of 96%; [CSH, p. 46]
Comments
77%-98% acid causes second or third degree burns after short contact; [CHRIS] Solutions <30% are corrosive; solutions >30% are highly corrosive; [Quick CPC] "Human carcinogen" designation refers to sulfuric acid contained in strong inorganic acid mists. A corrosive substance that can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] May cause erosion of teeth enamel; [HSDB] See "Strong inorganic acid mists."
Biomedical References
Search PubMed

Exposure Assessment

Skin Designation (ACGIH)
Insufficient data
TIH
Yes
TLV (ACGIH)
0.2 mg/m3, thoracic fraction
PEL (OSHA)
1 mg/m3
MAK
0.1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction
IDLH (NIOSH)
15 mg/m3
Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs
In exposures of 5 to 15 minutes, some volunteers found 5 mg/m3 to be very objectionable, while others found it less so [Amdur et al. 1952b].
Vapor Pressure
5.93E-05 mm Hg
Odor Threshold Low
0.15 ppm
Lethal Concentration
LC50 (rat) = 510 mg/m3/2h
Explanatory Notes
Odor threshold from AIHA; The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Sulfuric acid, fuming." VP from HSDB;
NFPA
will not burn
ERPG-1
2 mg/m3
ERPG-2
10 mg/m3
ERPG-3
120 mg/m3

Adverse Effects

Toxic Pneumonitis
Yes
Dermatotoxin
Skin burns
IARC Carcinogen
Established
NTP Carcinogen
Human carcinogen
ACGIH Carcinogen
Suspected Human

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure: