© 2026 Nanjing Finechem Holdings Co., Ltd,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Sulfuric Acid
Synonyms: Oil of Vitriol, Battery Acid
CAS Number: 7664-93-9
Recommended Use: Industrial manufacturing, battery electrolyte, chemical synthesis, water treatment
Supplier Information: Name, address, emergency contact number provided by the distributor or manufacturer; always keep this handy for quick reference during emergencies.
Product Identifier: Sulfuric Acid, concentrated or diluted as specified by container label or accompanying paperwork.
GHS Classification: Corrosive to metals (Category 1), Skin corrosion (Category 1A), Serious eye damage (Category 1)
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage; may cause respiratory irritation; may be corrosive to metals; contact with water or organic materials generates heat and hazardous vapors.
Pictograms: Corrosion, Exclamation Mark
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing mist or vapor; wear impervious gloves, protective eye and face shield, and appropriate clothing; handle with care in well-ventilated areas; keep away from incompatible materials such as organic substances and alkalis.
Hazards Not Otherwise Classified: Reacts violently with water, causes heat release and splattering; prolonged or repeated exposure to lower concentrations can erode teeth and irritate the respiratory tract.
Chemical Name: Sulfuric Acid
Concentration: Most commercial grades range from 78% to 98% w/w
Chemical Formula: H2SO4
Impurities and Stabilizing Additives: Trace metals, water content may vary by grade, possible minor inorganic impurities depending on source.
CAS Number: 7664-93-9
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air as quickly as possible; keep at rest; seek medical attention without delay for any respiratory distress. In cases where breathing stops or weakens, provide artificial respiration.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and immediately rinse affected area under running water for at least 15 minutes; call for emergency medical help. Chemical burns can deepen rapidly—avoid neutralizing agents directly on skin.
Eye Contact: Pull back eyelids while irrigating eyes continuously with water; do not allow victim to rub eyes; maintain flushing for 20 minutes minimum; transport to emergency medical facility.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting; rinse mouth with water; offer water or milk if the person is fully conscious and alert; seek immediate medical attention—internal tissue burns are possible and can escalate quickly.
Important Notes to Practitioners: Treat for chemical burns and inhalation injury as primary concerns; continuous airway monitoring is crucial. Rapid dissolution of clothing and soft tissue damage may occur.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use dry chemical, foam, or carbon dioxide for surrounding fires. Sulfuric acid itself does not burn, but heat from a fire may cause containers to rupture.
Specific Hazards Arising from Chemical: Sulfuric acid releases toxic vapors, including sulfur oxides, when heated or decomposed by fire; contact with most metals produces flammable hydrogen gas.
Protective Equipment and Precautions: Firefighters need full NFPA-approved protective suits, self-contained breathing apparatus; isolate hazard area, restrict entry as vapors and heat can spread widely.
Special Procedures: Approach from upwind; cool containers with water spray to prevent rupture; avoid water contact with the acid itself, which can cause violent splattering; contain run-off to prevent extensive environmental damage.
Personal Precautions: Secure the area, evacuate unnecessary personnel; ventilate space; wear heavy acid-resistant clothing, gloves, boots, splash-proof goggles, and a face shield; have breathing protection ready if mist concentration increases.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into waterways, drains, and soil; notify local authorities if significant release occurs impacting public or wildlife areas.
Containment and Cleanup Methods: Neutralize small spills with soda ash or lime, then absorb with inert material such as clay or commercial absorbent; shovel residue into chemical waste containers for proper disposal; flush remaining traces with water while containing run-off. Large spills may demand use of diking and vacuum trucks; consult trained hazardous material cleanup specialists.
Handling: Only trained personnel should handle concentrated sulfuric acid; use protective gear at all times; avoid splashes; never add water to acid, always add acid to water to minimize violent reactions; maintain adequate ventilation to prevent buildup of vapor or mist.
Storage: Store in cool, dry, isolated, and well-ventilated area away from flammable and combustible materials, organics, bases, and metals; use containers and piping made from compatible materials such as stainless steel; provide secondary containment to manage leaks.
Other Considerations: Store away from direct sunlight, sources of heat and ignition, and incompatible substances; ensure labels are intact and readable; keep emergency spill kits, eyewash stations, and showers nearby; limit quantity stored in one area to minimize risk.
Control Parameters: OSHA PEL: 1 mg/m3 (as sulfuric acid mist); ACGIH TLV: 0.2 mg/m3
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation to keep airborne levels below recommended exposure limits; closed systems or automation can reduce risk; make use of acid-resistant construction for work surfaces and containment.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Chemical splash goggles or face shield; acid-resistant gloves (rubber, neoprene); full-body apron or suit made from PVC or equivalent; closed-toe acid-resistant boots; for high mist concentrations or emergencies, use a NIOSH-approved respirator or supplied air system.
Hygiene Measures: Prohibit eating, smoking, or drinking in work areas; require strict hand wash protocols after handling; clean protective clothing regularly, store away from personal items.
Appearance: Clear, colorless to slightly yellow, oily liquid
Odor: Odorless, but strong sour fumes present at concentrated solutions
pH: < 1 (1 M solution)
Melting Point/Freezing Point: 10°C (50°F; 98% solution)
Boiling Point: 290°C (554°F)
Flash Point: Not applicable
Evaporation Rate: Negligible at room temperature
Solubility: Freely soluble in water, releases heat
Density: Approximately 1.84 g/cm3 at 25°C (concentrated solution)
Vapor Pressure: Low, 0.001 mm Hg at 25°C
Vapor Density: 3.4 (air=1)
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): Not applicable
Viscosity: High, especially in concentrated forms
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions without heat or contamination. Thermal decomposition begins above 340°C.
Reactivity: Vigorous reaction with water, strong exotherm; reacts violently with organic materials, bases, reducing agents, chlorates, and some powdered metals;
Hazardous Reactions: Contact with metals produces hydrogen gas; mixing with many compounds may cause fires or explosions; forms toxic sulfur oxides with oxidizing agents.
Conditions to Avoid: Strong heat, open flames, incompatible materials, addition of water or moisture during storage or use.
Incompatible Materials: Organic compounds, alkalis, chlorates, carbides, powdered metals, strong oxidizers, combustibles.
Decomposition Products: Sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, water vapor; all may be toxic if inhaled or released during fire conditions.
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, ingestion
Symptoms and Effects: Inhalation damages mucous membranes and deeper respiratory tissue, causes coughing, choking, possible pulmonary edema; skin or eye contact leads to rapid tissue destruction, severe burns, possible blindness; repeated inhalation, even at low levels, irreversibly damages teeth and respiratory tract.
Acute Toxicity: LD50 (oral, rat): 2140 mg/kg; LC50 (inhalation, rat, mist): 510 mg/m3 (2 hr); severe by all exposure routes.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged inhalation triggers chronic bronchitis, dental erosion, and skin damage; repeated exposure increases risk of cancer at certain concentrations per IARC (Group 1, sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in humans, related primarily to occupational exposure while producing strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid).
Other Data: No reliable data for reproductive, genetic, or developmental hazards through oral ingestion routes; most effects result from corrosivity.
Ecotoxicity: Sulfuric acid quickly lowers pH of surface waters and soil, devastating aquatic life and plant growth even at low concentrations; fish and invertebrates die rapidly in acidified environments.
Persistence and Degradability: Not persistent; breaks down rapidly into sulfate ions and water; acids can neutralize naturally over time but still pose acute danger.
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low; main risk is immediate environmental destruction, not long-term accumulation.
Mobility in Soil: Highly mobile in moist soils, leaches rapidly, alters soil chemistry, creates risk of groundwater contamination.
Other Adverse Effects: Acid rain component, widespread industrial releases alter local and regional water chemistry, harming vegetation, infrastructure, and aquatic habitats.
Disposal Methods: Must dispose of as hazardous waste in accordance with local, regional, and national environmental regulations; neutralize carefully with basic material only under controlled supervision; do not pour concentrated acid down drains or onto land.
Contaminated Packaging: Rinse before disposal, use licensed industrial hazardous waste handler; never reuse containers for food or unrelated chemicals.
Waste Codes: U165 (US EPA Hazardous Waste), D002 (corrosivity characteristic); consult local waste authorities for additional rules.
Precautions: Ensure only trained personnel manage the process; always provide adequate PPE and emergency wash stations.
Additional Recommendations: Minimize generation by reusing and recycling where possible within industrial processes.
UN Number: UN 1830
Proper Shipping Name: Sulfuric Acid
Transport Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive substances)
Packing Group: II (severe risk), varies with concentration
Labels Required: Corrosive symbol, transport emergency cards
Environmental Hazards: If released during transport spills, can cause severe ecological and material damage; carriers must be trained and equipped to manage leaks.
Special Precautions for Transporters: Vehicle must be placarded for hazardous materials, carry documentation accessible in emergencies; temperature-controlled vehicles required for certain grades; bulk transporters should use tanks and drums of corrosion-resistant materials.
OSHA: Classified as hazardous chemical requiring workplace communication (HazCom Standard)
SARA Title III: Listed under sections 302 (extremely hazardous substances), 313 (toxic chemical release reporting)
TSCA: Listed in US Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory
EU Regulations: Covered under REACH and CLP, mandatory labeling for corrosivity, strict rules for storage and consumer use
Canada WHMIS: Classified as Class E (corrosive material), Class D2A (toxic material)
Other Requirements: Spill reporting, safety data sheet availability, worker training, periodic review and audits to ensure compliance with national and regional rules.
Restrictions: Some consumer products and agricultural applications banned or strictly limited, with special permits required for bulk uses and transport of concentrations above certain thresholds.
