Sulfuric acid is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula H2SO4 and is the most important oxygen-containing acid of sulfur. Pure sulfuric acid is a colorless oily liquid that crystallizes at 10.36°C. Its aqueous solutions of various concentrations are usually used and are produced by the tower method and the contact method. The former yields crude dilute sulfuric acid, with a mass fraction of generally around 75%; the latter yields concentrated sulfuric acid with a mass fraction of 98.3%, with a boiling point of 338°C and a relative density of 1.84.

Sulfuric acid is the most active binary inorganic strong acid and can react with most metals. High-concentration sulfuric acid has strong water absorption and can be used as a dehydrating agent to carbonize carbohydrate-containing substances such as wood, paper, cotton and linen fabrics, and biological skins. When mixed with water, it also releases a large amount of heat energy. It is highly corrosive and oxidizing, so use it with caution. It is an important industrial raw material that can be used to make fertilizers, drugs, explosives, pigments, detergents, batteries, etc. It is also widely used in petroleum purification, metal smelting, dyes and other industries. It is commonly used as a chemical reagent and can be used as a dehydrating agent and sulfonating agent in organic synthesis.