I am making some chemical magic in my show and need some help from you guys. Is there anyone out there that can tell me how to obtain Conc. Sulphuric Acid in the things in our daily life. I was told that using the acid in the car battery and a little boil will make the sulphuric acid to be concentrated? Is this the truth?

If not what's the alternative?

Thanks pals
Liyao

First of all, be EXTREMELY careful with sulphuric acid. It is a major dehydrator, ie. it loves water. Get it on your skin and it will eat away very happily. It is highly active even diluted, it actually has
"volitility peaks" (dunno if that's the correct scientific term) at 30% and 60% dilution. Some pool shops sell it as an alternative to hydochloric acid which is much safer.

Car battery acid can be heated, outside with good ventilation, until white fumes appear. Concentrated sulphuric acid is 2 1/2 times heavier than water, ie. 1 litre weighs 2 1/2 kgs. I presume you want this to ignite a chlorate mixture? be careful, chlorates have many hazards of their own, being responsible for a large number of accidents. Oh, and conc. h2so4 will absorb moisture from the air so keep it sealed.

I accept no responsibility for the use of this information!

magically,
ric

if my memory serves me correctly, fools gold (iron pyrite) contains sulphuric acid and is quite easy to extract if you know how. (but due to the nature of acid is extremely dangerous) I found out this by heating some fools gold and it exploded into hudreads of hot little pieces (so glad I had safty goggles on that day) and decided to find out why.

The reason, it has sulpher in its chemical make up but, if you already do not know this, should you be playing with chemicals? Is there not an alternative way to achive your effects? There's a huge and wonderful range of safer pyrotechnics avalable.

I'm assuming it's pyrotechs your on about.
Stay safe.

BLAZE

If you can find another way to do your effects, I'd suggest it. Sulpheric and nitric acid are much to dangerous even to keep around, if only because of the fumes, and then when the time comes to dispose of them you have a whole 'nother set of problems. It will eat your drains and will harm the environment. That said, I wonder why you would want to make your own? Chem supply houses sell it as do stores that sell prospecting equipment. It's cheap, but takes care. Boiling off some is dangerous, both from the acid itself (splatter) and the fumes.
Slim Price/sanscan

I am a valve salesman that calls on chemcial plants on a daily basis. I sell equipment used in the handling of a variety of different medias such as acids and volatile gases. My customers are experts at the safe handling and manufacture of these dangerous products, 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. Protective headgear, goggles, faceshields, respirators, gloves, and chemical suits are a part of daily life in these facilities. I have seen the aftermath of chemcial accidents, and was glad I wasn't around when the event happened. So what am I saying?

Forget the Sulphuric Acid and go out and buy yourself a deck of cards.