vitriol
n 1: (H2SO4) a highly corrosive acid made from sulfur dioxide;
widely used in the chemical industry [syn: vitriol, oil
of vitriol, sulfuric acid, sulphuric acid]
2: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure
or bitter deep-seated ill will [syn: vituperation,
invective, vitriol]
v 1: expose to the effects of vitriol or injure with vitriol
2: subject to bitter verbal abuse
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Sulphuric \Sul*phu"ric\, a. [Cf. F. sulfurique.]
1. Of or pertaining to sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell.
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2. (Chem.) Derived from, or containing, sulphur;
specifically, designating those compounds in which the
element has a higher valence as contrasted with the
sulphurous compounds; as, sulphuric acid.
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Sulphuric acid.
(a) Sulphur trioxide (see under Sulphur); -- formerly so
called on the dualistic theory of salts. [Obs.]
(b) A heavy, corrosive, oily liquid, H2SO4, colorless
when pure, but usually yellowish or brownish, produced
by the combined action of sulphur dioxide, oxygen
(from the air), steam, and nitric fumes. It attacks
and dissolves many metals and other intractable
substances, sets free most acids from their salts, and
is used in the manufacture of hydrochloric and nitric
acids, of soda, of bleaching powders, etc. It is also
powerful dehydrating agent, having a strong affinity
for water, and eating and corroding paper, wood,
clothing, etc. It is thus used in the manufacture of
ether, of imitation parchment, and of nitroglycerin.
It is also used in etching iron, in removing iron
scale from forgings, in petroleum refining, etc., and
in general its manufacture is the most important and
fundamental of all the chemical industries. Formerly
called vitriolic acid, and now popularly vitriol,
and oil of vitriol.
Fuming sulphuric acid, or Nordhausen sulphuric acid. See
Disulphuric acid, under Disulphuric.
Sulphuric anhydride, sulphur trioxide. See under Sulphur.
Sulphuric ether, common anaesthetic ether; -- so called
because made by the catalytic action of sulphuric acid on
alcohol. See Ether, 3
(a) .
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Vitriol \Vit"ri*ol\, n. [F. vitriol; cf. Pr. vitriol, vetriol,
Sp. & Pg. vitriolo, It. vitriuolo; fr. L. vitreolus of glass,
vitreus vitreous. See Vitreous.] (Chem.)
(a) A sulphate of any one of certain metals, as copper, iron,
zinc, cobalt. So called on account of the glassy
appearance or luster.
(b) Sulphuric acid; -- called also oil of vitriol. So
called because first made by the distillation of green
vitriol. See Sulphuric acid, under Sulphuric.
[Colloq.]
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Blue vitriol. See under Blue.
Green vitriol, ferrous sulphate; copperas. See under
Green.
Oil of vitriol, sulphuric or vitriolic acid; -- popularly
so called because it has the consistency of oil.
Red vitriol, a native sulphate of cobalt.
Vitriol of Mars, ferric sulphate, a white crystalline
substance which dissolves in water, forming a red
solution.
White vitriol, zinc sulphate, a white crystalline substance
used in medicine and in dyeing. It is usually obtained by
dissolving zinc in sulphuric acid, or by roasting and
oxidizing certain zinc ores. Formerly called also vitriol
of zinc.
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