Sciencemadness Discussion Board

H2SO4- how can you detect it?

Oliver Twist - 4-8-2004 at 00:56

i have to test for MgSO4 in fresh water and then restore the water to its original balance of about 6.9.

[Edited on 4-8-2004 by Oliver Twist]

vulture - 4-8-2004 at 01:29

Your question is a bit confusing.

Do you want to detect H2SO4 or MgSO4 or both?

Bariumsalts will from a wite precipitate of BaSO4 with any sulfate. Be warned though that soluble barium salts are very toxic.

sanity gone - 5-8-2004 at 23:00

To test for MgSO4 you can simply boil the aqueous soln and add sodium carbonate. you should get a white percipitate. To test for sulfuric acid, use any metal that can displace hydrogen from acids and will create a non soluable suflate (can't think of a distinct one off the top of my head)

H2SO4

MadHatter - 6-8-2004 at 22:38

The methods for MgSO4 listed above are good indicators. For H2SO4, or
any other acid for that matter, I would use pH paper or solution.