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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SULPHURIC

a.Pertaining to sulphur; more strictly, designating an acid formed by sulphur saturated with oxygen; as sulphuric acid, formerly called vitriolic acid, or oil of vitrol.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

SULPHURIC

Sul *phu "ric, a. Etym: [Cf. F. sulfurique.]

1. Of or pertaining to sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell.

2. (Chem. )

Defn: Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a higher valence as contrasted with the sulphurous compounds; as, sulphuric acid. Sulphuric acid. (a ) Sulphur trioxide (see under Sulphur ); -- formerly so called on the dualistic theory of salts. [Obs. ] (b ) A heavy, corrosive, oily liquid, H2SO4, colorless when pure, but usually yellowish or brownish, produced by the combined action of sulphur dioxide, oxygen (from the air ), steam, and nitric fumes. It attacks and dissolves many metals and other intractable substances, sets free most acids from their salts, and is used in the manufacture of hydrochloric and nitric acids, of soda, of bleaching powders, etc. It is also powerful dehydrating agent, having a strong affinity for water, and eating and corroding paper, wood, clothing, etc. It is thus used in the manufacture of ether, of imitation parchment, and of nitroglycerin. It is also used in etching iron, in removing iron scale from forgings, in petroleum refining, etc. , and in general its manufacture is the most important and fundamental of all the chemical industries. Formerly called vitriolic acid, and now popularly vitriol, and oil of vitriol. -- Fuming sulphuric acid, or Nordhausen sulphuric acid. See Disulphuric acid, under Disulphuric. -- Sulphuric anhydride, sulphur trioxide. See under Sulphur. -- Sulphuric ether, common anæsthetic ether; -- so called because made by the catalytic action of sulphuric acid on alcohol. See Ether, 3 (a ).

Oxford Dictionary

sulphuric

sulphuric |sʌlˈfjʊərɪk |(US sulfuric ) ▶adjective containing sulphur or sulphuric acid: the sulphuric by-products of wood fires. ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from French sulfurique, from Latin (as sulphur ).

sulphuric acid

sul |phur ¦ic acid |sʌlfjʊərɪkˈasɪd | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a strong acid made by oxidizing solutions of sulphur dioxide and used in large quantities as an industrial and laboratory reagent. The concentrated form is an oily, dense, corrosive liquid. ●Chem. formula: H 2 SO 4.

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

sulphuric

sul phur ic /sʌlfjú ə rɪk /形容詞｟英｠＝sulfuric .