Sulphuric

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sulphuric \Sul*phu"ric\, a. [Cf. F. sulfurique.]
     1. Of or pertaining to sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Chem.) 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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {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 anaesthetic ether; -- so called
        because made by the catalytic action of sulphuric acid on
        alcohol. See {Ether}, 3
        (a) .
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sulphuric
       adj : of or relating to or containing sulfur; "sulphuric esters"
             [syn: {sulfuric}]