Preparation of Sulfuric Acid
Sulfuric Acid is generally prepared and manufactured by the following two methods, which are widely used.
- Contact Process
- Lead Chamber Process
Contact Process for manufacturing of Sulfuric Acid
The Contact Process comprises three phases in the production of sulphuric acid:
- Preparation of Sulphur dioxide by burning sulphur or sulphide ores in the air.
S (s) + O2 (g) → SO2 (g)
- Reaction between sulphur dioxide with oxygen in the presence of V2O5 catalyst to produce Sulphur trioxide (SO3) as,
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2SO3 (g)
- Conversion of Sulphur Trioxide into Sulphuric Acid as,
SO3 + H2SO4 (Oleum) → H2S2O7
H2S2O7 (l) + H2O (l) → 2H2SO4 (Sulfuric Acid)
The sulphuric acid obtained by the Contact process is 96–98% pure.
Lead Chamber Process
One of the most popular manufacturing processes is the lead Chamber method. It produces around 50 to 60 B-grade acids. Wet SO2 in the presence of nitrogenous oxides is used in this procedure (dynamic impetus). As a result, it undergoes oxidation with airborne oxygen to produce sulphur trioxide. This reaction is stated as,
2SO2 + O2 → 2SO3
Then, water and sulphur trioxide are allowed to interact, resulting in H2SO4. This reaction is stated as,
SO3 + H2O → H2SO4
Sulfuric Acid – H2SO4
Sulfuric Acid or Sulphuric Acid is a mineral acid consisting of one Sulfur, four Oxygen, and two Hydrogen atoms. The chemical or molecular formula of Sulfuric Acid is H2SO4. Sulfuric Acid is one most important commercially used chemicals. It is also known as Mattling acid or Hydrogen Sulfate or Vitriol. Sulphuric acid is a very strong acid and viscous liquid. It is a colorless, odorless, oily liquid, and corrosive in nature. Sulfuric acid is a component of acid rain as it is soluble in water.
Sulfuric acid is a highly acidic liquid. As a result, it is used for the cleaning of metals, the extraction of impurities from oil, the production of chemicals such as nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, and the manufacture of dye, medicines, detergents, and explosives, among other processes. The molar mass of Sulfuric Acid is 98.079 g/mol. The density of Sulfuric acid is 1.83 g/cm3. The H2SO4 molecule is covalent and has a tetrahedral structure and monoclinic crystal structure.
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