MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Sulfuric acid structure
Sulfuric acid structure and 3D model (H2O4S)
Sulfuric acid is a sulfur atom bonded to four oxygens: two as S=O and two as S–OH. The oxygens sit at the corners of a slightly distorted tetrahedron.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: computed with RDKit (ETKDG conformer, force-field optimised).
Sulfuric acid at a glance
| Formula | H2O4S |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 98.08 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | sulfuric acid |
| Atoms / bonds | 7 / 6 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 2 / 2 |
| logP (estimated) | -0.7 |
| SMILES | OS(=O)(=O)O |
| InChIKey | QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem | 1118 |
What the 3D model of Sulfuric acid shows
The model contains 7 atoms (5 heavy atoms and 2 hydrogens) joined by 6 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 2 and accept 2 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of -0.7 means it is very water-loving (hydrophilic). Its topological polar surface area is 75 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| sulfur | Tetrahedral (four electron domains) | ≈ 109.5°, distorted (O=S=O larger) |
| S=O bonds | Short bonds | ≈ 1.42 Å |
| S–OH bonds | Longer bonds | ≈ 1.57 Å |
Is Sulfuric acid polar?
Yes, very. Its O–H and S=O bonds are highly polar, and it forms strong hydrogen bonds, which is why it is a thick, high-boiling liquid.
Elemental composition of H2O4S
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen (H) | 2 | 2.016 | 2.06% |
| Oxygen (O) | 4 | 63.996 | 65.25% |
| Sulfur (S) | 1 | 32.067 | 32.70% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of sulfuric acid
- Making fertilisers (phosphates and ammonium sulfate)
- Electrolyte in lead-acid car batteries
- Drying agent and catalyst in chemical industry
Interesting facts
- Sulfuric acid is one of the most produced chemicals in the world.
- It is made by the contact process: burning sulfur, oxidising SO₂ to SO₃, then absorbing it.
- Concentrated sulfuric acid removes water from sugar, leaving a column of black carbon.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of Sulfuric acid?
Sulfuric acid is a sulfur atom bonded to four oxygens: two as S=O and two as S–OH. The oxygens sit at the corners of a slightly distorted tetrahedron. Its SMILES is OS(=O)(=O)O.
Why should you add acid to water and not water to acid?
Mixing releases a lot of heat. Adding acid slowly to water lets the water absorb the heat; adding water to acid can boil it and spatter acid.
What shape is sulfuric acid?
Tetrahedral around sulfur, with two S=O and two S–OH groups.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Sulfuric acid?
Sulfuric acid is H2O4S with a molar mass of 98.08 g/mol. It contains 7 atoms: 2 hydrogen, 4 oxygen, 1 sulfur.
What is the IUPAC name of Sulfuric acid?
The IUPAC name is sulfuric acid.
How do I draw Sulfuric acid?
Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES OS(=O)(=O)O or type "Sulfuric acid" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.