(Chapter 9)

Manufactured
subtances in Industry
RAVIEN

ALVIN

YOGES

CHAN WAI HON

Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4)

The most important industrial chemicals.
Main use of sulphuric acid is producing fertilizer.
Sulphonic acid is produced by the reaction between sulphuric
acid and hydrocarbon compound, then, it reacts with sodium
hydroxide to form sodium alkyl sulphonate which is a detergent .
This is also an use of sulphuric acid.
Accumulators need an electrolyte to carry chargers and to react
with positive and negative plates during the charging and
discharging process. In the accumulators, sulphuric acid acts as
the electrolyte. ( electrolyte= substance that ionizes when
dissolved in suitable ionizing solvents)

Uses of sulphuric acid

Sales

making fertilizers 38%

detergents 12%

other uses 18%

chemicals 18%

removing rust 1%
paints 13%

Manufacture of sulphuric acid

Three stages in manufacturing sulphuric acid

Stage 1 : Furnance
A) Sulphur is burnt in dry air to produce sulphur dioxide ( S+O2
SO2)
B) In the contact process, sulphur powder is sprayed inside the
furnance at a
temperature of 100c. Here sulphur is converted into sulphur
dioxide.
C) Sulphur dioxide can also be produced by heating metal
sulphate such as Zinc
Sulphate. ( 2ZnS + 3O2

2ZnO + 2SO2 )

Stage 2: The Converter

A) Sulphur dioxide and air are passed over a catalyst called vanadium(V)
oxide, (V2O5).
B) The temperature used here is about (450-500) C . If the temperature is
less than this range, the vanadium(V) oxide may not be ableto catalyse.
C) The reacting pressure is about 2 to 3 atmospheres.
D) At the stage, Sulphur trioxide is produced.(2SO2 + O2
E) This reaction will produce about 98 % sulphur trioxide.

2SO3 )

Stage 3 : the absorber (Formation of sulphuric

acid)
A) Sulphur trioxide is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid to form oleum
(H2S2O7) until sulphuric acid reach a concentration of 99.5% (SO3 +
H2SO4
H2S2O7)
B) Oleum will not show any property of acid because it will not ionise without
the presence of water .
C) Water is then added to oleum to produce concentrated sulphuric acid .
(H2S2O7 + H2O

2H2SO4).

D) The reaction a and b is equivalent to dissolving Sulphur trioxide in water.

E) However this reaction is not carried out in industries because its too
vigorous.

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