Question

The corrosive action of ${H_2}S{O_4}$ on skin is due to its dehydrating action.
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

Hint: Sulphuric acid is a mineral acid that is odorless, colorless and viscous liquid soluble in water. corrosive substances damage the other substances with which they come into contact. Dehydration means removal of water. Some substances have this corrosive property.

Complete step by step answer:
The structure of sulphuric acid is as follows-

It is a dibasic acid. Concentrated sulphuric acid is known as king of acids because it is a strong acid and more reactive than other acids. It is also called as oil of vitriol because in ancient days it was prepared by distillation of green vitriol. Sulfuric acid is prepared industrially by the reaction of water with sulphur trioxide. Sulphur trioxide is made from sulphur dioxide and oxygen by the contact process.
Sulphuric acid is prepared industrially by the contact process. The catalyst used in this process is vanadium oxide. Sulphuric acid is used widely in the manufacture of fertilizers, chemicals such as acids, synthetic dyes, detergents, pigments, explosives and drugs.
A dehydrating agent is a substance or chemical which can remove water molecules from a given compound. OR Any substance that can readily absorb moisture from its surroundings is called a dehydrating agent.
Sulphuric acid is used as a dehydrating agent since it readily protonated the water molecule and forms hydronium ions.
On reaction with skin it absorbs the moisture from the skin causing damage to the cells leading to skin burns.

So ,the statement is true. The corrosive nature of ${H_2}S{O_4}$ is due to its dehydrating action. .

Note: Such skin burns can be treated with alkali since it can neutralize the acid.
Some other examples of dehydrating agents are concentrated phosphoric acid, hot aluminium oxide. Sulphuric acid is highly viscous in nature because its molecules are associated with hydrogen bonding. It is a highly corrosive chemical. It is also used as a sulphonating agent in organic reactions.