Where can I get dilute Sulfuric and Hydrochloric Acid?

[Tom Hinton]

I am wondering where I can get Dilute Sulfuric Acid and Hydrochloric Acid in the UK. I don't want to dilute more Concentrated Versions.

The Sulfuric Acid needs to be about 1M

The Hydrochloric Acid needs to be about 2M

Thanks in advance,

Tom

[Robert Bruce Thompson]

Hi, Tom

As to the UK, I'm not sure, but in the US you can purchase sulfuric acid in various dilutions as drain cleaner (which is usually 90%+) but is technical grade and may have significant impurities, or as battery acid in auto parts stores, which is usually 30% to 35% acid and relatively pure. Hydrochloric acid is sold under that name or as "muriatic acid" in various concentrations in hardware/DIY stores for cleaning concrete and for adjusting the pH of swimming pools.

Best regards.

Bob

--
Robert Bruce Thompson
thom...@thehomescientist.com

[j yeardly]

Try http://www.reagent.co.uk/

Joe

[Joe Anderson]

Just dilute the concentrated solutions! With some simple safety precautions and math, it is a doddle.

Concentrated sulfuric acid can be found in the Range and many other hardware stores as drain unblocker, and I have found concentrated hydrochloric acid as "spirits of salt" in hardware stores too.

If you need them to be high-quality standards, then fair enough: buy from a lab supplier. If not, then just dilute them yourself. BTW, do you understand what "1M, 2M" etc. means? I'm not being sarcastic or mean, just wondering if you understand what they are.

[Tom Hinton]

I've just found some patio cleaner that states it contains 10% HCl (2.87M). I've titrated it using lab 11.4, and found that it was about 2.5M, just the right concentration. I've also found some battery acid on ebay (I couldn't find any at the local hardware store) but haven't bought it yet because I'm wondering whether to get the concentrated stuff as most experiments requiring H2SO4 use 91 - 98% sulphuric acid.

@Joe Anderson: M = How many moles of solute per litre of solution.

Tom

[Joe Anderson]

Get the more concentrated acid; it is significantly safer to dilute acid, than to concentrate it.