What is the preferred name for H2SO4?

The preferred name for H2SO4 is sulfuric acid, which reflects its chemical composition and structure. In this case, the prefix "sulfur-" indicates the presence of sulfur in the compound, while the suffix "-ic acid" typically denotes that the substance is an acid derived from a sulfur-containing anion. Sulfuric acid is known for being a strong acid and one of the most common and important industrial chemicals, widely used in various applications such as battery production, fertilizer manufacturing, and chemical synthesis.

The name is widely accepted in the scientific community and is rooted in the rules of chemical nomenclature established for naming acids. The systematic naming guides dictate that for acids derived from polyatomic ions ending with "-ate," the name will typically have the suffix "-ic." Since H2SO4 is derived from the sulfate ion (SO4^2-), it appropriately takes the name sulfuric acid.