Product Safety Summary for Sulphuric Acid
SUBSTANCE NAME
Sulphuric acidSulfuric acid

GENERAL STATEMENT
Sulphuric Acid is a light brown liquid. It is a very strong inorganic acid and one of the oldest chemical
substances produced by mankind. It has a very wide range of uses and applications in many chemical
processes, in electrolytic applications, in industrial cleaning and etching applications. Apart from batteries,
there are practically no consumer products with Sulphuric Acid. It is very corrosive and irritating to the skinand the eyes. This hazard property requires careful protection of industrial workers and professional users
who may come into contact with it. From an environmental point of view, Sulphuric Acid is of low risk.

CHEMICAL IDENTITYEC Name:
EC-No. :CAS-No. :Molecular formula:
Structural formula:

Sulphuric acid231-639-5
7664-93-9
H2O4S

USES AND APPLICATIONSThere are many different industrial processes to produce Sulphuric Acid. They have in common that Sulphur
Dioxide is oxidized and subsequently reacted to Sulphuric Acid. Sulphuric Acid is one of the most widelyused industrial chemicals. It is used as an intermediate to produce many different organic and inorganic
chemicals, including fertilizers, and as a processing aid, catalyst, dehydrating agent and pH regulator in manyprocesses. It is used in the extraction and treatment of minerals and ores and as an agent to purify and scrub
liquid and gas streams in the industry. Sulphuric acid is also used in the process of surface treatments,etching, metal plating and other electrolytic processes, as well as for purification and industrial cleaning
purposes. As end-use, Sulphuric Acid finds application in batteries, e.g. for automotive applications.

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Product Safety Summary for Sulphuric Acid
PHYSICAL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Sulphuric acid is an odorless light brown liquid at room temperature and pressure.
Melting point/range:
Boiling point/boiling range:
Decomposition temperature:
Flammability (solid, gaseous):
Ignition temperature:
Explosion limits:
Lower:
Upper:
Molecular weight:
pH value:pKa:
log Pow:
Vapor pressure:
Vapor density:
Relative density:
Solubility in/Miscibility
with water:
Dynamic viscosity:-1.11°C to 3°C (Sulphuric Acid at 98%)
310-335°C at 1013 hPas (Sulphuric Acid at 98%)
Not applicable
Product is not flammable.
Not determined
Product does not present an explosion hazard.
Product does not present an explosion hazard.
98.08 g/mol< 1, at 20°C
1.92, at 20°C
Not relevant for ionisable substance
130 Pa, at 148.5 °C and <0.1Pa, at 20°C (Sulphuric Acid at 97%)
Not determined
1.8361 g/cm³, at 20 °C (Sulphuric Acid at 98%)
Fully miscible with water.
22.5 mPa·s at 20 °C (Sulphuric Acid at 95%)

HEALTH EFFECTS
Sulphuric Acid as such is not expected to be absorbed or distributed throughout the body as the acid willrapidly dissociate. The effects of Sulphuric Acid are essentially the result of the hydrogen ion rather than theeffect of the sulphate ion. Effects may be caused by pH changes or reactions of the H+ ion and therefore they
are not necessarily specific to Sulphuric Acid. Sulphuric Acid is very corrosive and irritating to the skin and tothe eyes. Due to this property, significant or prolonged exposure, specifically via oral and dermal exposure,does not occur and is not tested for animal welfare reasons. To the extent tested Sulphuric Acid is notconsidered to cause acute or long term health effects, other than skin and eye damage due to its corrosive andirritating properties.
EFFECT ASSESSMENT
Acute Toxicity(oral/dermal/inhalation)
Irritation/Corrosivity(skin/eye/respiratory tract)
Sensitization(skin/respiratory tract)
Repeated Exposure
Mutagenicity
Carcinogenicity
Reproductive Toxicity

April 23rd, 2012RESULT
Acute toxicity is dominated by local corrosivity and irritancy in allroutes of exposure. Therefore, classification of Sulphuric Acid for
acute toxicity is not considered to be appropriate.
Sulphuric Acid is irritating and corrosive to the skin and to theeyes.
Based on the available data Sulphuric Acid is not considered tohave skin or respiratory sensitization properties.
The effects of Sulphuric Acid are essentially a consequence of thelocal corrosivity/irritancy it produces, therefore repeated orprolonged exposure is irrelevant.
Available in/vitro and in/vivo data indicate that Sulphuric Acid
does not cause mutagenic effects.
No evidence of a carcinogenic potential was observed incarcinogenicity studies addressing oral exposure.
Studies have not shown any fertility and other adverse
reproductive effects.

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Product Safety Summary for Sulphuric Acid

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
Sulphuric Acid is a strong inorganic acid. It is fully miscible with water and it dissociates readily in water tohydrogen ions and sulphate ions at environmentally relevant pH. Both ions are ubiquitous in theenvironment and, as such, not toxic. The hydrogen ion contributes to the pH of the local environment. Thesulphate ion is incorporated into the various mineral species present in the environment. The total
dissociation of Sulphuric Acid at environmental pH implies that it will not, per se, adsorb onto particulates oraccumulate in living tissues. Sulphuric Acid has no potential to persist.
EFFECT ASSESSMENT
Aquatic Toxicity

RESULT
Aquatic toxic effects seem to be entirely dependent on pH and not
specific to Sulphuric Acid per se.

FATE AND BEHAVIOR
Biodegradation

RESULT
Biodegradation criteria do not apply to inorganic substances like
Sulphuric Acid.
Sulphuric Acid dissociates readily in water to non-bioaccumulativeions and it is totally miscible with water, therefore, bioaccumulationof Sulphuric Acid is not expected.
Sulphuric acid has no potential to persist and therefore does notmeet the PBT and vPvB criteria.

Bioaccumulation potential

PBT/vPvB conclusion

EXPOSURE
Human Health
The majority of uses of Sulphuric Acid involve chemical conversion, such that the sulphuric acid molecule
hardly ever remains in downstreams and in end-use products. In the environment, Sulphuric Acid dissociates,
therefore, consumer exposure through contact with products or through environmental exposure isnegligible. Human exposure may only occur in industrial or professional use due to the use of Sulphuric Acid
as raw material or reactant, or in all levels derived from the production, use, maintenance and recycling ofbatteries containing Sulphuric Acid. The corrosive nature of Sulphuric Acid dictates very rigorous avoidanceof human contact with the product, which severely limits the overall exposure.
Environment
The uses of Sulphuric Acid are manifold, therefore, there are many potential sources for local or dispersive
environmental exposure originated from the manufacturing or use of Sulphuric Acid. Besides, there may beenvironmental exposure due to other processes where Sulphuric Acid could be generated, such as processesof combustion of fossil fuels. However, apart from unintentional accidental releases, environmental exposure
to Sulphuric Acid is in general low, mainly due to the fact that Sulphuric Acid readily dissociates in theenvironment.

RISK MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
The corrosive nature of sulphuric acid is the main risk that needs to be managed. Industrial workers andprofessional users need to be rigorously protected against skin and eye contact and inhalation of fumes.
Consumers do not normally come in contact with Sulphuric Acid. Personnel handling Sulphuric Acid must betrained and protected by taking precautionary measures to protect against chemical exposure. Therefore
protective clothing, gloves and tightly sealed chemical goggles should be worn when handling it. GoodApril 23rd, 2012

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Product Safety Summary for Sulphuric Acid
ventilation at the workplace should be provided and local mechanical suction extraction should be installed if
the release of fumes or aerosols cannot be avoided.
Sulphuric acid should only be handled in areas where safety showers are present. Soiled and contaminatedclothing should be removed immediately. Sulphuric Acid should be kept away from foodstuffs, beverages andfeed. Workers should not eat, drink, smoke or sniff while working with the product, and hands should be
washed before breaks and at the end of work. Sulphuric Acid should be stored in dry conditions and awayfrom alkaline substances. For environmental protection in case of accidental release: do not allow product toreach sewage system or any water course. Retain and dispose of contaminated wash water.

STATE AGENCY REVIEWThis substance has been registered under REACH (EC) No. 1907/2006.
Sulphuric Acid is on the OECD list of High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals.
Sulphuric Acid is listed in the following Chemical Inventories: TSCA, EINECS, Canadian DSL, IECSC, PICCS,KECI, AICS, ENCS and NZIoC.

REGULATORY INFORMATION/CLASSIFICATION AND LABELINGClassification of the substance according to REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008:
Skin/Eye (Corrosion/irritation):

Skin Corrosive Cat.1A; H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage

Labeling according to REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008:
Pictogram:

Signal word: Danger
Hazard statements:

H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.

CONTACT INFORMATION WITHIN COMPANY
For further information on this substance or product safety summaries in general, please contact:
Company:
Department:
Address:
Town/Country:
Postal code:
E-mail:April 23rd, 2012

UBE Chemical Europe, S.A
Corporate Social Responsibility
Poligono Industrial El Serrallo, s/nGrao de Castellon (Castellon), Spain
12100
sds.ube.eu@ube.esPage 4

Product Safety Summary for Sulphuric AcidAdditional information can be found at:
http://www.ube.es
http://www.icca-chem.org/en/Home/ICCA-initiatives/global-product-strategy/

GLOSSARY
Acute toxicity
Biodegradation
Bioaccumulation
Canadian DSL
Carcinogenicity
CAS
Chronic toxicity
EINECS
Flash point
Genotoxicity
GHS
HPV
Hydrolyze
Intermediate
Monomer

Mutagenicity
PBT
Persistence
Risk Management Measures

REACH (EC) No. 1907/2006
REGULATION (EC) No 1272/2008
Reprotoxicity

April 23rd, 2012

Harmful effect resulting from a single or shortterm exposure to a substance.
Decomposition or breakdown of a substance undernatural conditions (actions of micro-organisms
etc).
Progressive accumulation in living organisms of achemical substance present in the environment.
Domestic Substances List of Canada.
Substance effects causing cancer.
Chemical Abstracts Service (division of theAmerican Chemical Society).
Harmful effect after repeated exposures or longterm exposure to a substance.
European Inventory of Existing Commercial
Chemical Substances
The lowest temperature at which vapor of thesubstance may form an ignitable mixture with air.
Substance effect that causes damage to genes,
including mutagenicity and clastogenicity.
Globally Harmonized System of Classification andLabeling of Chemicals
High Production Volume Chemicals.
Undergo hydrolysis; decompose by reacting withwater.
Substance that is manufactured for and consumed
in or used for chemical processing in order to betransformed into another substance.
Means a substance which is capable of forming
covalent bonds with a sequence of additional likeor unlike molecules under the conditions of therelevant polymer-forming reaction used for theparticular process.
Substance effect that cause mutation on genes.
Persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemical.
Refers to the length of time a compound stays inthe environment, once introduced.
Engineering controls, conditions and protective
equipment needed to be implemented to ensurethat the risks to human health and theenvironment are adequately controlled.
European Commission Regulation concerning theRegistration, Evaluation, Authorization andRestriction of Chemicals.
European Commission Regulation onClassification, Labeling and Packaging ofSubstances and Mixtures.
Including teratogenicity, embryotoxicity andPage 5

Product Safety Summary for Sulphuric Acid
Sensitizing

Sediment
TSCA
Vapor pressurevPvB

harmful effects on fertility.
Allergenic.

Topsoil, sand and minerals washed from land into
water forming in the end a layer at the bottom ofrivers and sea.
Toxic Substance Control Act
A measure of a substance’s property to evaporate.
Very persistent, very bio-accumulative.

DATE OF ISSUE
April 2012

REVISION
Version 1.0

DISCLAIMER
The information contained in this paper is intended as advice only and whilst the information isprovided in utmost good faith and has been based on the best information currently available, is to berelied upon at the user’s own risk. No representations or warranties are made with regards to its
completeness or accuracy and no liability will be accepted by UBE Chemical Europe, S.A for damages of
any nature whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance on the information.

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