The Home Scientist 013 - Cheap Sulfuric Acid, Part I

Analyzing cheap hardware store sulfuric acid for concentration and purity

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[PYROTEKNIKS801]

you a cool man your like my idol man and i have only seen this video if you dont mind me asking what did you study how many years and what kin of jobs will be available i am looking forward to pursue this career

[TheHomeScientist]

@PYROTEKNIKS80

Thanks. I studied chemistry intensively on my own starting when I was 11. I had three years of high-school chemistry, majored in chemistry undergrad, and started a combined PhD/MD program, which I didn't finish.

[98JMA]

Why dilute the acid before titration??

[TheHomeScientist]

@98JMA

Two reasons: having more liquid makes the end point more visible, and it's a bad idea to react concentrated acid with a base if there's an alternative.



[coolman2693]

hey man, ive recently been making sulfuric acid for my school project through the electrochemistry of CuSO4(aq) using two nails, one cooper (the other one im not sure, I just found it in my garage). However once ive finished the process im left with a somewhat transparent, but yellow substance, which im assuming is dilute sul. acid with some sort of contaminant mixed in, and when I boil it down, it turns almost a black/yellowish color. and mixed with sugar nothing happens, any ideas why?

[TheHomeScientist]

@coolman2693

You probably have a mixture of dilute sulfuric acid with some sulfurous acid, colloidal sulfur, and other contaminants.

[98JMA]

@Lloydy9101

He's not from NurdRage . . . he was just promoted by NurdRage and the accents are the same because he lives in the US and Dr. Lithium is in Canada.

[gck1953]

@coolman2693 No doubt it is the addition of that cooper (sic) to the admixture which has eff'ed up your 'speriment bubba.

[hydriodic]

I wish this guy still made videos

[Deoxyribonucleon]

In my country, you can get 98% H2SO4 drain cleaner in hardware stores. It is surprisingly clean. It is clear and almost fully colourless.

[PyroPudding]

I could not find at ace hardware!!!!

[purplemutantas]

@59Ballons Sulfuric acid is used in lead acid batteries. If you run your car battery down all the way it will be dead. You can revive the battery by adding sulfuric acid to it.

There are many dangerous things sold to the general public. Like cars, gasoline, alcohol, McDonalds hamburgers ETC. Unfortunately some things get banned because someone does something stupid with it. But cars are legal despite the fact that people are stupid with them all the time.

[JasonEldur]

why can't i hear the audio?, I can see the levels bumping but no sound. other youtube vids play.

[oneofusall]

Hi! How would you turn battery acid (~37%) to +90 sulphuric acid? Distil? Epsom salt? I need this to do HCL. Thank you!!

[thatinvisiblekid333]

..i wish i can do that. i like mixing chemicals together and seeing what happens. except you know i'll actually know what i'm doing

[spotlightman1234]

@HUsoldier171 lol sodium bisulfate doesn't make H2SO4 in solution. All you did was dissolve the NaHSO4 in water then crystalize it back out.

[spotlightman1234]

@nathanwilefrazier You are correct.