Sulfuric Acid vs Sponge - Chemical Reaction

What happens when a wet sponge meets Sulfuric Acid? In today's one minute science we take a look at the amazing reaction that occurs when these two items meet. But why does this happen? Share your thoughts in the comments and vote up your favorite explanation.

Remember, when dealing with chemical of any kind you should always wear proper gear such as gloves and goggles. .
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[lolgal]

Who rests in a graveyard under the sea?
...spongebob squarepants

[allmyducksinarow]

Maybe it's because sponges and acid had a war a 1000 years ago. Sponges won and acid came back stronger to seek revenge... 

[extendedpp]

I told a chemistry joke, there was no reaction >:(

[Kirukitsu]

||Starts gently rocking the bowl back and forth without any gloves on||
Me: STOP.

[ObiJuanKenobi]

Why does this happen? BECAUSE IT HAS A SKULL ON THE BOTTLE!! ANYTHING WITHA SKULL ON IT DOES SCARY THINGS!

[abrahamyarbrough]

This video made me so happy! It was so satisfying to see a sponge that looked like spongebob squarepants get burned by acid. You have made my dreams a reality.

[hbaggg]

Why did it happen, You ask?
Its acid, The hell did you think would happen?

[xander]

because SpongeBob doesn't react well when you give him acid.

[zeepzorpufo]

*What happened to Spongebob after Season 3*

[gamingismymiddlename]

Spongebob: f is for fun and u is for you and me!
*pours sulfiric acid*
Spongebob: n is for wait. What is this! I'm burning!

[RainbowBeed]

That's what SpongeBob gets for years of annoying laughter.

[Membrane]

Two things are happening one heat is being created by the acid reacting with the water but the acid is also reacting with the sponge.
The acid first spits into a proton with forms H3O+ and an anion SO4 this is an exothermic reaction.
Since this is a synthetic sponge it's probably made of cellulose and a polymer.
Cellulose is a polysaccharides chemically related to monosaccharides such as sugar.
The acid still wanting to absorb more water will get it by ripping the hydrogen and oxygen bounds off the cellulose leaving carbon which is why the remaining mixture is black.
As to why a dry sponge is not attacked the hydronium in the aqueous acid solution breaks the oxygen bonds in the polysaccharide chains.

[GameShaBang]

Here's how: The cleaning sponge you have is made of a cellulose material containing a variety of base chemicals. When you pour the acid onto the sponge your mixing a base and an acid, causing a chemical reaction, and since the acid you've used is corrosive, its going to cause an even more strong acidic effect in the sponge causing it to decompose with a corrosion. Corrosive acid is very concentrated therefore it can get even the smallest amount of bases in something to react. Even just putting your hand in there will cause this reaction. 

[cicero]

*plankton evilly laughing in the distance*

[alexanderweinstein]

"Now make sure you have your gloves. Ok, time to take off the gloves and pour the sulfuric acid unprotected!"

[LeedleLord]

Sulfuric acid has a very low ph. Low ph disrupts the secondary and tertiary structure of proteins. The acid is disrupting and destroying bonds in the sponge, breaking it down into its molecular and atomic structure. The colors in the acids are broken down sponge.

[occreatorgaming]

I was watching spongebob during this I was in tears for at least 20 minutes

[l.j.]

They said spongebob is unkillable, so i gave this to them.

[RavishankarVenkatesh]

Acids are corrosive in nature. The sponge has spicules which react with acids and hence is separated from their bonds

[LoafingtonBloke]

Watch as the acid eats through the sponge

Now watch as i swish this sulfuric acid with my bare hands.