[5] It is a colorless, water-soluble liquid,[2] although commercial samples can appear yellow or even red.

Vinylsulfonic acid is produced industrially by the alkaline hydrolysis of carbyl sulfate with subsequent acidification of the resulting vinyl sulfonate salt:[6] The reaction is highly exothermic (reaction enthalpy: 1,675 kJ/kg) and requires exact maintenance of temperature and pH during the hydrolysis.

The activated C=C double bond of vinylsulfonic acid reacts readily with nucleophiles in an addition reaction.

For example, transparent membranes with high ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity can be produced from polyvinylsulfonic acid.

[10] Where the sulfonic acid functionality is not essential, the much more usable alkaline aqueous solution of sodium vinylsulfonate is used, which is obtained directly in the alkaline hydrolysis of the carbyl sulfate and is commercially supplied as an aqueous solution..