Question

Do You Add Sulfuric Acid to Water or Water to Sulfuric Acid?

Answer 1

While preparing dilute sulphuric acid from concentrated sulphuric acid, it is always advised to add concentrated acid to water. This is because the reaction between acid and water produces lot of heat. Hence, when water is added to acid, it results in vigorous boiling of the solution and the amount of heat produced is so large that it splashes the acid out of the container, which can result in acid burns. On the other hand, when we add acid to water, it is like adding a concentrated solution to water in small amounts. So comparatively lesser amount of heat is released.