Sulfuric Acid: the King of Chemicals

Sulfuric acid earns the title of “king of chemicals” rightly: it’s the most commonly used chemical in the world. Your industrial chemical supplier Bell Chem proudly stocks the universal chemical, sulfuric acid, for your industry. The 180 million tons of sulfuric acid produced worldwide leads to widespread applications for well-established industrial businesses as well as niche markets. No matter your industry, your business will appreciate having Bell Chem’s sulfuric acid on hand. 

Automotive Industry

Lead acid batteries need sulfuric acid to act as an electrolyte to stimulate electron flow between the battery’s positive and negative diodes. The ubiquity of sulfuric acid in auto batteries is so complete it is commonly referred to as battery acid. This type of acid also helps with another part that keeps cars running, the oil. Crude oil is refined utilizing sulfuric acid as a catalyst.

Industrial and Medical Uses

The oxidizing power of concentrated sulfuric acid catalyzes chemical oxidation/reduction reactions. At above average temperatures, sulfuric acid reacts strongly with metals and sugar, dissolving metal and releasing almost all water in sugar, leaving the hydrocarbon molecules with only carbon, which blackens and elongates into a “carbon snake.” Water and sulfuric acid form a violent combination, exuding intense heat. Sulfuric acid is also used in the manufacturing process of chemotherapeutic medicines and to lower pH levels in water treatment facilities. 

Bleaching Properties 

Sulfuric acid dissociates chloride dioxide, delignifying hardwood and softwood alike, which assists in paper bleaching. This acid also helps give white sugar its hue. Processing brown sugar from white sugar seems rather foreign since white sugar is simply brown sugar without molasses. Sugar bleaching requires chemical reactions to reduce the sugar to a white, fine texture before molasses is re-introduced. One of the chemicals within this process is sulfuric acid. 

With all these uses that span across industries, it’s no wonder sulfuric acid is known as the “king of chemicals.” Bell Chem is an industrial chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including sulfuric acid. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.

Sulfuric Acid

Sulfuric acid, a highly corrosive mineral acid, is a very important commodity chemical throughout the world. In fact, a nation’s sulfuric acid production is often a good indicator of its industrial strength. Roughly 60% of the world’s sulfuric acid production is used for fertilizers, especially superphosphates, ammonium phosphate, and ammonium sulfates. Around 20% is used in the chemical industry to produce things like detergents, pharmaceuticals, insecticides, antifreeze, and synthetic resins. Less than 10 % of the world’s sulfuric acid is used in relation to pigments in paints, inks, papers, and fabrics. Sulfuric acid is a clear, water-soluble liquid with a yellowish tint. You may be familiar with it around the house, as this chemical is frequently used as a major ingredient in acid drain cleaners to remove unwanted hair, tissue, grease, etc. from household drains like sinks and showers. Sulfuric acid is also heavily used as an industrial cleaning agent by the iron and steel making industries in order to remove oxidation, rust, and scaling from materials before they are sold.

At our Orlando chemical supply company, sulfuric acid is just one of the many chemical products we offer. In addition to reagent-grade chemical products and personal care raw materials in Orlando, we stock many hard to find tech-grade chemicals and custom compounds. Call us at 407-339-BELL (2355) for a full list of our chemical products.