硫酸是一种最活泼的二元无机强酸，能和许多金属发生反应。高浓度的硫酸有强烈吸水性，可用作脱水剂，碳化木材、纸张、棉麻织物及生物皮肉等含碳水化合物的物质。与水混合时，亦会放出大量热能。其具有强烈的腐蚀性和氧化性，故需谨慎使用。是一种重要的工业原料，可用于制造肥料、药物、炸药、颜料、洗涤剂、蓄电池等，也广泛应用于净化石油、金属冶炼以及染料等工业中。常用作化学试剂，在有机合成中可用作脱水剂和磺化剂。

Sulfuric acid is one of the most active binary inorganic strong acids, which can react with many metals. High concentration sulfuric acid has strong water absorption and can be used as dehydrating agent, carbohydrate-containing substances such as carbonized wood, paper, cotton and linen fabrics and biological skin and meat. When mixed with water, a large amount of heat is released. It has strong corrosiveness and oxidation, so it should be used cautiously. As an important industrial raw material, it can be used in the manufacture of fertilizers, drugs, explosives, pigments, detergents, batteries, etc. It is also widely used in the purification of petroleum, metal smelting and dyestuff industries. It is often used as a chemical reagent, dehydrating agent and sulfonating agent in organic synthesis.