Is H2SO4 poisonous?

Question

Other than as a strong acid.
Mechanism?

Answer 1

Sulfuric acid, in small amounts, will not harm you, just take care of the exposed area ASAP. Your stomach contains HCl (hydrochloric acid) and adding a bit more acid would not upset too much. You probably will damage your esophagus by drinking this acid.

The hydration reaction of sulfuric acid is highly exothermic. If water is added to concentrated sulfuric acid, it can boil and spit dangerously. One should always add the acid to the water rather than the water to the acid. This can be remembered through mnemonics such as "Do as you oughta: add acid to water"

The link below will provide additional information.

Answer 2

You can read about chemical hazards in the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.

For H2SO4 follow the link below.

Answer 3

Yes

Oral rat LD50: 2140 mg/kg

Thats lethal dose for 50% or rats tested on was 2140mg per kg bodyweight.

But asperine is 10 times more toxic:
Oral rat LD50: 200 mg/kg

Answer 4

It's not poisonous
It is very harmful...
Laboratory hazards

The corrosive properties of sulfuric acid are accentuated by its highly exothermic reaction with water. Hence burns from sulfuric acid are potentially more serious than those of comparable strong acids (e.g. hydrochloric acid), as there is additional tissue damage due to dehydration and particularly due to the heat liberated by the reaction with water, i.e. secondary thermal damage. The danger is obviously greater with more concentrated preparations of sulfuric acid, but it should be remembered that even the normal laboratory "dilute" grade (approx. 1 M, 10%) will char paper by dehydration if left in contact for a sufficient length of time. The standard first aid treatment for acid spills on the skin is, as for other corrosive agents, irrigation with large quantities of water: in the case of sulfuric acid it is important that the acid should be removed before washing, as a further heat burn could result from the exothermic dilution of the acid. Washing should be continued for a sufficient length of time—at least ten to fifteen minutes—in order to cool the tissue surrounding the acid burn and to prevent secondary damage. Contaminated clothing must be removed immediately and the underlying skin washed thoroughly.

Preparation of the diluted acid can also be dangerous due to the heat released in the dilution process. It is essential that the concentrated acid is added to water and not the other way round, to take advantage of the relatively high heat capacity of water. Addition of water to concentrated sulfuric acid leads at best to the dispersal of a sulfuric acid aerosol, at worst to an explosion. Preparation of solutions greater than 6 M (35%) in concentration is the most dangerous, as the heat produced can be sufficient to boil the diluted acid: efficient mechanical stirring and external cooling (e.g. an ice bath) are essential.
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Industrial hazards

Although sulfuric acid is non-flammable, contact with metals in the event of a spillage can lead to the liberation of hydrogen gas. The dispersal of acid aerosols and gaseous sulfur dioxide is an additional hazard of fires involving sulfuric acid. Water should not be used as the extinguishing agent because of the risk of further dispersal of aerosols: carbon dioxide is preferred where possible.

Sulfuric acid is not considered toxic besides its obvious corrosive hazard, and the main occupational risks are skin contact leading to burns (see above) and the inhalation of aerosols. Exposure to aerosols at high concentrations leads to immediate and severe irritation of the eyes, respiratory tract and mucous membranes: this ceases rapidly after exposure, although there is a risk of subsequent pulmonary edema if tissue damage has been more severe. At lower concentrations, the most commonly reported symptom of chronic exposure to sulfuric acid aerosols is erosion of the teeth, found in virtually all studies: indications of possible chronic damage to the respiratory tract are inconclusive as of 1997. In the United States, the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for sulfuric acid is fixed at 1 mg/m3: limits in other countries are similar.

Answer 5

think about it if it's a strong acid it can destroy tissue. it's diprotic so it can really dammage tissue before it's neutralized. i know people with nasty scars 25 years later...

jonny was a chemist, but he aint no more cuz he drank H2SO4

Answer 6

May be. May not be. Depends on your constitution. If you are a mortal, 99% chance favors finding short cut to heaven/hell. For immortals, I am not aware since I do not happen to be one

Answer 7

It's not really poisonous but it is very hazardous.

Answer 8

Yes, it's one of the strongest acids witch means that it can burn your skin down, and something worse if you drink it...

Answer 9

I wouldn't drink it if I were you

Answer 10

it will burn you out!