Need sulfuric acid H2SO4 -- where to get it?

A. Hi, Michael. Please tell us the intended use so we have an idea what you are looking for. Sulfuric acid is available all the way from concentrated (93%+) down to 0.02 Normal (a 50:1 dilution from a 1N titrating solution, probably not far from 0.093% concentration).

Concentrated acid is available in 12 gallon carboys and larger containers (I'm not sure about 5 gallon containers). Plating, anodizing, and metal finishing shops use large quantities of this, so look up 'chemicals' or 'plating distributors' in the yellow pages of a nearby large city or google it. The general product is available on-line as sulfuric acid based drain opener -- it's dangerous stuff, and off-label use makes it more so.

If you are looking for lower concentration, like 25%, that is available (as you found) as battery acid.

I suspect that part of the problem may be in your wanting to pick it up rather than having it shipped. This is a hazardous material with D.O.T. shipping restrictions. While there may be an exemption for small quantities of dilute acid for sale to consumers as battery acid, the suppliers may be prohibited, either by law or by a good stewardship pledge, from allowing you to drive off with a larger container or a more concentrated solution. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

A. Hi, Alberto. The only place a 6th grader should get sulfuric acid is from his science teacher for use while under his/her direct supervision :-)

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

A. Hi, Alberto. The point is that sulfuric acid is not for 6th graders except under the direct supervision of their science teacher. 6th graders probably shouldn't put their e-mail address on the internet either  🙂

Please explain what it is that you want it for; maybe we can then suggest either a safer way to do your experiment (such as with vinegar), or advise your parents how to supervise the project if it's an extremely low concentration use? Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

If my 6th grade child was using Sulfuric Acid (even battery acid) for a school project, I'd be having a word with the teacher, if it was indeed required for a school project.

Am I the only one that thinks this is a bit much for a child to be handling this young of an age?

Times sure have changed.

0.02N Sulfuric Acid

on Amazon or eBay
(affil link)

A. Hi again Alberto. Even a graduate chemist would want goggles ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] and rubber gloves ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] before working with acid ... hopefully you are all set in that area.

If you are going to do this against repeated warnings, have your parents get a laboratory grade titration solution ⇨
for you. It is possible to do exacting chemical titrations with very dilute laboratory grade solutions.

Hi, Mark. If Alberto is really a real 6th grader rather than a troll, I'm almost sure that there is no teacher in the country who would suggest that he independently buy sulfuric acid for an experiment.

But I do think titrations can be safely done with very low sulfuric acid concentrations if properly structured. I imagine that a 0.02N solution poses no hazard that vinegar doesn't; probably even a 0.12N solution would be safe with adult supervision.

Actual science can be conducted with highly dilute reagents, whereas to me trying to do "science" with Dr. Pepper and Sprite is nonsense -- so maybe it's justified as long as the science teacher is buying the stuff so very dilute solutions are assured.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey