What does sulfuric acid do

Wear chemical protective clothing if necessary. Quickly take off contaminated clothing, shoes and leather goods e. Quickly and gently blot or brush away excess chemical. Immediately flush with lukewarm, gently flowing water for at least 30 minutes. If it can be done safely, continue flushing during transport to hospital.

Double bag, seal, label and leave contaminated clothing, shoes and leather goods at the scene for safe disposal.

Eye Contact: Avoid direct contact. Wear chemical protective gloves if necessary. Quickly and gently blot or brush chemical off the face. Immediately flush the contaminated eye s with lukewarm, gently flowing water for at least 30 minutes, while holding the eyelid s open. Neutral saline solution may be used as soon as it is available. If necessary, continue flushing during transport to hospital. Take care not to rinse contaminated water into the unaffected eye or onto the face.

Ingestion: Have victim rinse mouth with water. If vomiting occurs naturally, have victim lean forward to reduce risk of aspiration. Have victim rinse mouth with water again. First Aid Comments: Some of the first aid procedures recommended here require advanced first aid training. All first aid procedures should be periodically reviewed by a doctor familiar with the chemical and its conditions of use in the workplace.

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Not combustible. Use extinguishing agent suitable for surrounding fire. ONLY Use water to keep non-leaking, fire-exposed containers cool. Specific Hazards Arising from the Chemical: Contact with water causes violent frothing and spattering.

Reacts with metals to produce highly flammable hydrogen gas. Closed containers may rupture violently when heated releasing contents. In a fire, the following hazardous materials may be generated: corrosive sulfur oxides. Personal Precautions: Evacuate the area immediately. Isolate the hazard area.

Keep out unnecessary and unprotected personnel. Do not touch damaged containers or spilled product unless wearing appropriate protective equipment. Remove or isolate incompatible materials as well as other hazardous materials. Methods for Containment and Clean-up : Small spills or leaks: contain and soak up spill with absorbent that does not react with spilled product.

Place used absorbent into suitable, covered, labelled containers for disposal. Large spills or leaks: contain and soak up spill with absorbent that does not react with spilled product.

Dike spilled product to prevent runoff. Remove or recover liquid using pumps or vacuum equipment. Store recovered product in suitable containers that are: corrosion-resistant. Contaminated absorbent poses the same hazard as the spilled product.

Other Information: Large spills: contact supplier, local fire and emergency services for help. Report spills to local health, safety and environmental authorities, as required. Handling: Avoid generating vapours or mists. Immediately report leaks, spills or failures of the safety equipment e. Prevent accidental contact with incompatible chemicals. This may impact the environment as wet acid deposition 'acid rain'. The primary sources of sulfuric acid emissions are the industries that manufacture it or use it in production.

Some of the industries that use it in production are the metal smelters, phosphate fertilizer producers, oil refiners, the chemical industry, battery manufacturers, manufacturers or fabricated metal products, manufacturers of electronic components, and manufacturers of measuring and controlling devices.

These are emissions to the air unless there is a spill to water or land. Sulfuric acid spilt to land or water may result in emissions of the acid to air. Other possible emitters of sulfuric acid are home and larger pool treatment, the disposal of automobile batteries, electroplating facilities, electronics, semiconductor and circuit board production, potato growers, and water and waste water treatment.

These emissions may be to the soil, water, or air. Sulfuric acid may be also produced as a result of sulfur dioxide reacting with other chemicals in the air. Although sulfuric acid is not found in motor vehicle exhaust, it may be produced by the reaction of sulfur dioxide in the exhaust with other chemicals.

Hard surface cleaners, metal cleaners, pool chemicals, car, motorcycle, truck and boat batteries. Skip to main content.

Sulfuric acid Overview Health effects Environmental effects Sources of emissions References Description Sulfuric acid is the world's largest volume industrial chemical. Melting Point: Australia's Sulfuric acid emission report. Description Sulfuric acid is a corrosive chemical and can severely burn the skin and eyes.

Entering the body Sulfuric acid will enter the body if we breathe in contaminated air. Exposure Consumers are most likely to be exposed to sulfuric acid when using products containing the substance e.

Drinking water guidelines There is no guideline for sulfuric acid in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Description Sulfuric acid will exist as particles or droplets in the air if released to the atmosphere. Entering the environment Industrial emissions of sulfuric acid can produce elevated concentrations in the atmosphere.

Where it ends up Sulfuric acid enters the air during production, use and transporting it. Manual of Analytical Methods. Health Hazard Evaluations. Related Topics All Chemical Topics. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.

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