a. [ad. F. sulfurique (Nomencl. Chimique, 1787): see SULPHUR sb. and -IC 1.]

1

  1.  Chem. Sulphuric acid, a highly corrosive oily fluid (hydrogen sulphate, H2SO4), also called oil of vitriol, in its pure state a dense liquid without color or smell; prepared on a large scale for use in arts and trades by burning iron pyrites or sulphur and leading the fumes, together with oxides of nitrogen and air, over into chambers into which jets of steam are forced.

2

  Formerly used also for sulphur trioxide, sulphuric acid gas, SO3, also called anhydrous sulphuric acid.

3

1790.  Kerr, trans. Lavoisier’s Elem. Chem., 355. Fluid substances, such as sulphuric and nitric acids.

4

1791.  Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. I. I. i. 5. The solution of indigo in the sulphuric (vitriolic) acid.

5

1794.  Pearson, trans. Morveau’s Chem. Nomencl., 3. These three species are named the Sulphureous, the Sulphuric, and the Oxygenated Sulphuric Acids.

6

1815.  J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 420. Sulphuric acid is the union of oxygen and sulphur.

7

1866.  Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 169. Salt-cake process. This process consists in the decomposition of salt by means of sulphuric acid.

8

  attrib.  1827.  Faraday, Chem. Manip, xv. (1842), 393. A sulphuric acid bath … may be used with great advantage in the desiccation of particular gases.

9

1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxvii. 339. Sulphuric acid baths exerted a favourable influence on the eruptions.

10

1851.  Catal. Great Exhib., IV. 1077. Sulphuric acid clay, known in trade under the denomination of aluminas.

11

1876.  Dunglison, Med. Lex., s.v. Sulphuric Acid, Sulphuric dcid Lemonade … is made by adding together sulphuric acid, water, and syrup.

12

  b.  With qualifying word, as concentrated, dilute, glacial, Nordhausen (see these words).

13

  Anhydrous sulphuric acid, sulphur trioxide. Fuming sulphuric acid, a mixture of sulphuric acid and sulphur trioxide. German sulphuric acid = NORDHAUSEN.

14

1790.  Kerr, trans. Lavoisier’s Elem. Chem., 272. Concentrated sulphuric acid.

15

1800.  [see GLACIAL 2 b].

16

1843.  Francis, Dict. Arts, s.v., Nordhausen or German sulphuric acid.

17

1867.  Chambers, Encycl., IX. 203/1. Sulphuric Anhydride, formerly known as Anhydrous Sulphuric Acid.

18

  c.  Related to or derived from sulphuric acid.

19

  Sulphuric anhydride: sulphur trioxide. Sulphuric ether, ethylic or vinic ether, a compound formed by the action of sulphuric acid upon spirits of wine. Sulphuric oxide: sulphur trioxide.

20

1815.  J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, III. 96. Ether, sulphuric.

21

1862.  Miller, Elem. Chem., Org. (ed. 2), iii. § 6. 245. The hydrocarbons of this class combine readily with sulphuric anhydride [ed. 1857 anhydrous sulphuric acid].

22

1868.  Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 569. Sulphuric Oxide or Anhydride, SO3. Anhydrous Sulphuric Acid. Ibid., 576. Sulphuric Chloride, SO2Cl2.

23

1871.  Tyndall, Fragm. Sci. (1879), I. xvii. 449. For barely visible redness formic aether is more opaque than sulphuric.

24

  † 2.  Consisting of or containing sulphur. Obs. rare.

25

1794.  Hutton, Philos. Light, etc., 205. In the deflagration of sulphur, while the phlogistic part escapes in light, the proper sulphuric matter is oxigenated.

26

1811.  Pinkerton, Petral., II. 62. The rocks of common salt, with the bituminous, sulphuric, and metallic.

27