Industrial Acids Density Comparison: H₂SO₄, HNO₃, HCl & H₃PO₄
Molar mass, aqueous concentration curves, specific gravity, and laboratory safety batch calculations.
Concentrated Sulfuric Acid (98% H₂SO₄)
One of the densest common laboratory liquids; nearly 1.84 times heavier than water.
Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid (37% HCl)
Aqueous solution of dissolved HCl gas; capped at ~37% concentration by atmospheric vapor pressure.
Direct Mathematical Comparison
| Acid Solution | Standard Concentration | Density @ 20°C | 1 Litre Weight (kg) | 100 kg Volume (L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄) | 98.0% w/w | 1.836 kg/L | 1.836 kg | 54.47 L |
| Phosphoric Acid (H₃PO₄) | 85.0% w/w | 1.685 kg/L | 1.685 kg | 59.35 L |
| Nitric Acid (HNO₃) | 68.0% w/w | 1.410 kg/L | 1.410 kg | 70.92 L |
| Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) | 37.0% w/w | 1.190 kg/L | 1.190 kg | 84.03 L |
| Acetic Acid (Glacial) | 99.5% w/w | 1.049 kg/L | 1.049 kg | 95.33 L |
1. Why Mineral Acid Densities Vary Drastically
Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is a liquid at room temperature in pure form with heavy molar mass (98 g/mol) and tight hydrogen bonding, yielding extreme density (1.84 kg/L). In contrast, pure HCl is a gas, so concentrated aqueous HCl is ~63% water, limiting its density to 1.19 kg/L.
Volume vs Mass Visualizer
Volume Comparison: Why 1 kg Doesn't Always Look the Same
Because density variation exists across different materials, a 1 kg block of honey is much smaller than a 1 kg bottle of cooking oil. Adjust the mass slider below to see how comparative volume changes based on substance type and mass.
Other Material Comparisons
Water vs Milk Density: Side-by-Side Mass & Volume Comparison →
Why whole milk is 3% heavier than water, the effect of butterfat vs non-fat milk solids, and dairy recipe conversions.
All Cooking Oils Density Compared: Olive, Canola, Sunflower & Coconut →
Side-by-side density matrix of 12 culinary oils, smoke point relationships, and recipe mass-to-volume scaling.
Diesel vs Petrol (Gasoline) Density: Fuel Comparison Guide →
Chemical chain length differences, energy density per litre, EN 590 vs EN 228 standards, and fuel economy impacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about comparing these materials.