What happens when sulfuric acid touches the skin?

Answer 1

Strong solutions of sulphuric acid are highly

corrosive and can cause skin burns on

contact. The severity of the burn depends on

the strength of the acid solution and how

long you are exposed to it. Drinking a

solution of sulphuric acid will burn the

mouth, throat and stomach and can cause

death. Burns to the eyes are dangerous and

could cause blindness

Strong solutions of sulphuric acid are highly

corrosive and can cause skin burns on

contact. The severity of the burn depends on

the strength of the acid solution and how

long you are exposed to it. Drinking a

solution of sulphuric acid will burn the

mouth, throat and stomach and can cause

death. Burns to the eyes are dangerous and

could cause blindness

* Inhalation. The most common way for sulfuric acid to enter the body is through the respiratory system. Serious lung damage may result from inhalation exposure to sulfuric acid. * Contact with the Skin. Sulfuric acid can irritate the skin and cause chemical burns ranging from mild to severe, depending on the concentration of the sulfuric acid solution. Concentrated vapor or solution that contacts the skin may cause the victim to experience severe pain, redness of the skin, blisters and necrosis. * Contact with the Eyes. Sulfuric acid or sulfuric acid vapor, even with short-term exposure, can irritate the eyes and cause burning, swelling, tearing of the eyes and/or blurred vision, and may cause blindness. * Ingestion. Immediate burning in the mouth and throat occur when sulfuric acid is swallowed. Ingestion of concentrated solution can cause severe pain in the mouth, chest and abdomen, nausea and vomiting, or perforations in the esophagus. As the concentration of sulfuric acid increases, the symptoms become more severe. Acute exposures to sulfuric acid can cause immediate burning of the eyes. Itchy, burning eyes can help to warn people of potentially hazardous exposure levels. The very young, the very old, and people with health problems are at an increased risk from the health effects of sulfuric acid exposure. Erosion of the teeth, stomatitis, gastric strictures, chronic bronchial irritation with cough, and/or chronic shortness of breath may occur with repeated or long-term exposure to sulfuric acid. Skin rashes may also occur with repeated exposures of dilute concentrations of sulfuric acid.

Answer 2

Sulfuric acid is the acid found in lead batteries. it will cause a very severe chemical burn on the skin. It is just as dangerous to breathe in the fumes of sulfuric acid as it is to com into contact with it. There for use extreme caution if you have to deal with the substance. For more information go to http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts117.html#bookmark02

Answer 3

No one really knows what happens if you drink sulfuric acid in low concentrations (such that you can even drink it), for example at a pH of 2.3, which would be about the same as lemon juice in acidity. To my limited chemical and medical knowledge I would say that it most likely doesn't do much of anything at all, similar to the phosphoric acid found in cola and in foods as a food additive. This is because sulfur is biologically inactive and the acid reacts quickly and easily with organic compounds (high dissociation constant), so it would rather reduce in the mouth, stomach and small intestine to sulfur, oxygen, and whatever organic chemicals, before it could disturb your whole body by entering the blood through your digestive system. This is probably also the only reason why it cannot be used as a food additive: it would already vanish inside the food and then it tastes and smells like sulfur.

For comparison, hydrofluric acid absorbs even through the skin and if you drank even small concentrations it would be absorbed into your blood and entire body where it would slowly dissolve you from the inside (low dissociation constant). It is also a neurotoxin because it releases fluoride which binds to calcium, which is especially needed by the nervous system, and can't be used anymore after it is bound to fluoride.

Additionally, I don't know any government which doesn't permit flushing sulfuric acid down the toilet (in low concentrations) and in most countries it is sold as drain cleaner. So it supposedly doesn't poison the water.

Of course if you drank higher concentrations it would instantly burn your mouth and cause discomfort and possibly intestinal cramps. You would have to be kind of super-retarded to do it, or not notice it almost instantly before you can even swallow.

Answer 4

Concentrated sulfuric acid strips water from the components of the skin leaving only carbon. As it does this it also heats up and cases thermal damage (burns) below the immediate chemical reaction impact.

Answer 5

Sulfuric acid is a dehydrating agent. It will dehydrate you proteins.

Answer 6

the acid can cause a major irritation or can just burn your skin depending on how concentrated it is. srival your body into a raisen

Answer 7

turns the toucher into a mutant. NO! ONLY JOKING! it probably causes a "Burn" on you. (what if it does do my first explanation...)