Question

What do the symbols, ${H_2}$ , $S$ and ${O_4}$ mean in the formula ${H_2}S{O_4}$ ?

Answer 1

Hint : Chemical compounds like sulphuric acid and other important acids are composed or constitute of the elements present in the periodic table. Various chemical elements combine in different ratios or proportions to form varieties of compounds like acids and bases and other important chemicals.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Sulphuric acid is a very potent or strong acid that is commonly used in laboratories for various experiments.
It is composed of three different types of chemical elements which are - Hydrogen atom ${H_2}$ , Sulphur $S$ and element Oxygen ${O_4}$ .
In sulphuric acid, all the three atoms i.e. Sulphur, Oxygen and Hydrogen all are present in different proportions, like in sulphuric acid there are two hydrogen atoms, one sulphur atom and four oxygen atoms.
So, on the basis of our discussion we can say that, in ${H_2}S{O_4}$ different elements represent:
H- Hydrogen atom
S-Sulphuric acid
O- Oxygen atom
These all three elements combine in the ratio of $2:1:4$ to make sulphuric acid.
This is a very strong acid.

Note :
There is always confusion in the spelling of the ${H_2}S{O_4}$ , so let’s clear it first. Thus, ${H_2}S{O_4}$ can be spelled in both ways, that is, it can be written as Sulphuric acid in context with American style and also Sulphuric acid in context with Commonwealth spelling. So both the ways and spelling are correct. Sulphuric acid is also known as the ‘oil of vitriol’. So basically it is a colourless, odourless and viscous liquid that is miscible in water.