Ouch!  Sulfuric acid does not evaporate!  The water it's mixed with does, leaving concentrated sulfuric acid behind, which will do incredible damage to you and the van.

Suit up in old clothes, wear a face mask and rubber gloves, remove what's left of the battery, and wash everything down with a solution of baking soda to neutralize the acid.  Then take a shower and wash the old clothes, or they will be full of holes the next time you see them.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Jim Felder
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2015 9:27 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Boom! Started my day with a little nitric acid

Charged the battery overnight in Fifty Shades of Brown in anticipation of getting the pump primed this weekend. When I hit the key it sounded like a
12 gauge shotgun in the back. It literally blew the top off the battery and sent acid all over the place. Glad I was at the switch and not back there.

Jim