# Sulphuric acid: Relationships Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/links/ Every element and industry that Sulphuric acid is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two. - [Copper](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/copper-and-sulphuric-acid/): Copper and sulphuric acid are tied both ways: smelting sulphide concentrates makes roughly 4 tonnes of acid per tonne of copper, while leach mines consume acid to dissolve oxide ore. Acid sales now prop up smelter margins when treatment charges are weak, and acid shortages raise costs at leach mines, notably in Chile. *(researched)* - [Hydrofluoric acid](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/hydrofluoric-acid-and-sulphuric-acid/): Hydrogen fluoride is made by heating acid-grade fluorspar with sulphuric acid, about 2.45 t of acid per tonne of HF in theory, leaving about 3.6 t of anhydrite. Fluorspar, 60% of it mined in China in 2025, is the scarce and dearer input; sulphuric acid is the bulk reagent, whose cost rose with the 2025 to 2026 sulphur spike. *(researched)* - [Phosphate rock](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/phosphate-rock-and-sulphuric-acid/): Sulphuric acid is the reagent that unlocks phosphate rock: it dissolves the rock into phosphoric acid and leaves four to five tonnes of gypsum per tonne of P2O5. Phosphate fertiliser is the largest use of sulphur, so sulphur and acid price spikes go straight into phosphate costs. *(researched)* - [Phosphoric acid](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/phosphoric-acid-and-sulphuric-acid/): Wet-process phosphoric acid is made by dissolving phosphate rock in sulphuric acid, so large phosphoric acid plants usually run their own sulphuric acid plant beside them. That makes sulphur a direct cost of phosphate fertiliser: the 2026 sulphur spike lifted India's phosphoric acid contract by $340 a tonne of P2O5 in one quarter. *(researched)* - [Sulfur](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulfur-and-sulphuric-acid/): Most sulphur ends up as sulphuric acid: it is burned to sulphur dioxide and converted to acid, mainly for phosphate fertiliser and metal leaching. Sulphur is a by-product of cleaning oil and gas, so its supply does not respond to acid demand, and when a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz cut Gulf shipments in 2026, the delivered acid price in northern Chile doubled in about seven weeks. *(researched)* - [Zinc](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-zinc/): Most zinc is made by roasting sulphide concentrate, and the sulphur dioxide given off is turned into sulphuric acid, so every zinc smelter is also an acid plant. Acid is a by-product that must be sold or disposed of whatever its price: when acid is dear it props up smelter margins, and when it is cheap it becomes a cost. *(researched)* - [Lead-acid batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lead-acid-batteries-and-sulphuric-acid/): Lead-acid batteries needs sulphuric acid; their prices have moved together. - [Waste-heat power (steam Rankine)](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-waste-heat-power-steam-rankine/): Waste-heat power (steam Rankine) needs sulphuric acid; their prices have moved together. - [Aerospace and defence](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/aerospace-and-defence-and-sulphuric-acid/): Aerospace and defence depends on sulphuric acid. - [Ammonium sulphate](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/ammonium-sulphate-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Caprolactam](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/caprolactam-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Computers and electronics](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/computers-and-electronics-and-sulphuric-acid/): Computers and electronics depends on sulphuric acid. - [DAP and MAP](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/dap-and-map-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Dyes](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/dyes-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Flow batteries](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/flow-batteries-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Fungicides](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/fungicides-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Household and personal care](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/household-and-personal-care-and-sulphuric-acid/): Household and personal care depends on sulphuric acid. - [Lead](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/lead-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Metal products](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/metal-products-and-sulphuric-acid/): Metal products depends on sulphuric acid. - [Nickel](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/nickel-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Paper and packaging](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/paper-and-packaging-and-sulphuric-acid/): Paper and packaging depends on sulphuric acid. - [Refining and reforming](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/refining-and-reforming-and-sulphuric-acid/): Their prices have moved together. - [Textiles and leather](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-textiles-and-leather/): Textiles and leather depends on sulphuric acid. - [Titanium dioxide](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-titanium-dioxide/): Their prices have moved together. - [Uranium](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-uranium/): Their prices have moved together. - [Waste and recycling](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-waste-and-recycling/): Waste and recycling depends on sulphuric acid. - [Water and sanitation](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-water-and-sanitation/): Water and sanitation depends on sulphuric acid. - [Water treatment chemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/links/sulphuric-acid-and-water-treatment-chemicals/): Their prices have moved together. ## Other sections - [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/index.md) - [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/overview/index.md) - [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/correlation/index.md) - [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/routes/index.md) - [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/production/index.md) - [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/feedstocks/index.md) - [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/cycles/index.md) - [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/trading/index.md) - [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/movement/index.md) - [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/regulation/index.md) - [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/characteristics/index.md) - [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/sulphuric_acid/emissions/index.md)