What container should be used to store concentrated sulfuric acid?

Concentrated sulfuric acid is a viscous liquid. It has relatively strict requirements for storage and transportation. When stored normally, it must be placed in a cool and ventilated warehouse. The temperature of the warehouse cannot exceed 35 degrees, and the humidity cannot exceed 85%. It must be sealed and kept away from heat sources and fire. Smoking is strictly prohibited in the workplace. Let's learn about what containers are used to store concentrated sulfuric acid.

What container should be used to store concentrated sulfuric acid?

Since concentrated sulfuric acid is a non-volatile strong acid, it can be stored in a glass bottle or an iron barrel coated with asphalt.

Sulfuric acid should be stored in a cool, ventilated warehouse. The warehouse temperature shall not exceed 35°C and the relative humidity shall not exceed 85%. Keep container sealed. Stay away from fire and heat sources, and smoking is strictly prohibited in the workplace. Keep away from flammable and combustible materials. Prevent vapors from escaping into the workplace air. Avoid contact with reducing agents, alkalis and alkali metals. Be careful when handling to prevent damage to the packaging and containers. Equipped with appropriate types and quantities of fire-fighting equipment and leakage emergency treatment equipment. Empty containers may contain hazardous residues. When diluting or preparing solutions, the acid should be added to the water to avoid boiling and splashing that could injure people.

Physical properties

In addition to the inherent chemical properties of acids, concentrated sulfuric acid also has its own special properties, which are very different from dilute sulfuric acid. The main reason is that there are a large number of unionized sulfuric acid molecules in the concentrated sulfuric acid solution (sulfuric acid molecules can also undergo self-ionization). These sulfuric acid molecules give concentrated sulfuric acid very strong properties.

Pure sulfuric acid is a colorless, odorless, oily liquid. The mass fraction of H2SO4 in commonly used concentrated sulfuric acid is 98.3%, its density is 1.84g·cm-3, and its molar concentration is 18.4mol·L-1. At 98.3%, the melting point is 10℃; the boiling point is 338℃. Sulfuric acid is a strong acid with a high boiling point and low volatility. It is easily soluble in water and can be miscible with water in any ratio. Concentrated sulfuric acid releases a large amount of heat when dissolving, so when diluting concentrated sulfuric acid, "the acid should be added to the water, poured slowly along the wall of the container, and stirred constantly."