What Is the Safest Way to Dilute Concentrated Sulfuric Acid?

Sulfuric acid, a highly potent chemical often used to burn or etch solid materials, has the ability to corrode solid materials as well as dehydrate. If you accidentally get some on your skin, it will quickly dehydrate the area and cause a serious acid burn. To reduce the possible harmful effects of sulfuric acid, it is important to dilute its concentrated form. You cannot simply add water to concentrated sulfuric acid. Dilute it safely to avoid serious injury.

Things You'll Need

• Glass container
• Sulfuric acid
• Water
• Glass stir stick

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Fill a glass container with water. The acid you add will likely damage other types of containers.

   • 2

     Pour small amounts of sulfuric acid slowly into the water. Sulfuric acid has a volatile relationship with water. If you pour it too quickly, the mixture will boil and splatter, causing injury.

   • 3

     Stir the mixture constantly as you add the acid. Use the glass stir stick to distribute the acid and water equally and slow down the reaction between the acid and water.