OBJECTIVE

-To determine the uses of sulphuric acid in our daily life. -To investigate how sulphuric acid affect the environment

THE USES OF SULPHURIC ACID

Sulphuric acid is one of the most important industrial chemicals. It has widely varied uses and plays some part in the production of nearly all manufactured goods. y y y Sulphuric acid is one of the most important industrial chemicals. About 140 million tonnes are manufactured in the world eery year. It is used in most industries ranging from agriculture fertilizers to paints, soap and cleaning of rust. The main use of sulphuric acid is in producing fertilizers, particularly superphosphate and ammonium sulphate.

Sulphuric acid is used to make: Fertilizers Example: calcium hydrogen phosphate is formed when sulphuric acid reacts with calcium phosphate 2H SO + Ca (PO ) Ca (H PO ) + 2CaSO

Electrolyte Example: copper (II) sulphate solution. As an electrolyte in Lead-acid accumulator cell which used in motor vehicles.

Artificial synthetic fibres are polymers. Example:rayon is produced form action of sulphuric acid on cellulose.

Detergents Are synthetic cleaning agent. Sulphuric acid reacts with hydrocarbon to produce sulphuric acid which then neutralized with sodium hydroxide to produce detergent. Ammonium sulphate. Prepared from sulphuric acid and an aqueos ammonia. H SO + 2NH (NH ) SO (ammonium sulphate)

Potassium sulphate. Prepared from sulphuric acid and potassium hydroxide. H SO + KOH K SO + 2H O (potassium sulphate)

Neutralisation of sulphuric acid with barium hydroxide produces barium hydroxide which is white pigment in point.

USES OF SULPHURIC ACID Drying agent

EXAMPLE Concentrated sulphuric acid is generally use to dry gas in the laboratory. However it is not suitable to dry alkaline gases such as ammonia. Concentrated sulphuric acid copper (II) sulphate 2H SO (I) + Cu (s) CuSO (aq) + 2H O (I) + SO (g). However dilute sulphuric acid does not react with copper. When concentrated sulphuric acid is added to sugar, a violent reaction occurs. The water content in the sugar is extracted by the acid and the sugar becomes carbon. C H O (I) 6H O (I) + 6C(s) It reacts with the salt of the weak acid such as sodium ethanoate to form a weak acid. 2CH COONa (s) + H SO (I) 2CH COOH (aq) + Na SO (aq)

Oxidising agent

Dehydrating agent

Strong acid

MANUFACTURED OF SULPHURIC ACID

> Sulphuric acid , H2SO4 does not occur naturally. > Sulphuric acid, H2SO4 is manufactured in industry through Contact Process. > Consist of three stages

Converter (conversion of sulfur dioxide)

-->

Absorption Tower (sulfur trioxide absorbed into the sulfuric acid mist

-->

Hydration of Oleum to produce sulfuric acid

First Stages  In the furnace, molten sulphur is burnt in dry air to produce sulphur dioxide, SO2. the gas produced is purified and cooled.  S(l) + O2(g) SO2(g)

Second Stages  At converter, sulphur dioxide SO2 and excess oxygen gas, O2 are passed over a few plates of vanadium(V) oxide, V2O5 catalysed at 450 C to produce sulphur trioxide, SO3.  About 99.5% of sulphur dioxide , SO2 is converted into sulphur trioxide SO3 through reversible reaction.

Third Stages  In the absorber, the sulphuric trioxide, SO3 is first reacted with concentrated sulphuric acid H2SO4 to form a product called oleum, H2 SO3(g) + H2SO4(l) H2S2O7(l)

 The oleum H2S2O7 is then diluted with water to produced concentrated sulphuric acid H2SO4 in large quantities. H2S2O7(l) + H2O(l) 2H2SO4(l)

 The two reaction in the third stage are equivalent to adding sulphur trixoxide, SO3 directly to water. SO3(g) + H2O(l) H2SO4(l)

 But, this is not done in industry because sulphur trioxide, SO3 reacts too violently with water.  It can cause a lot of heat and a large cloud of sulphuric acid H2SO4 mist.  The mist is corrosive, pollutes the air and difficult to condense.

Contact Process

Sulphur dioxide and environmental pollution

1. Sulphur dioxide is present to some extent in the unpolluted asmophere.the sulphur dioxide source are form ; a)bacteria decay of organic metal b)volcanic gases c)forest fire However their concentration are low and they are normally considered as non polluting. 2. a) sulphur is found in coal and petroleum. When these fossil fuels burn they produced sulphur dioxide. S (s) + O (g) SO (g)

b) When this gas is released to the atmosphere, they polute the air. In facts, the burning of coal and oil is the major source of sulphur dioxide pollution in our environment. c) This gas is considered as the most serious health hazard among the pollutant. This is true especially for people with respiratory difficulties.

3. When SO dissolves in water or rain, they form sulphurous acid H SO . 4. Atmosphere SO can be oxidized to SO also. When SO dissolved in water, it forms sulphuric acid. SO (g) + H O (I) H SO (aq). H SO .

Both type of acid will cause acid rain. 5. Acid rain affects marine and forest ecology. In a acidic environment, less fish will breed in polluted lake. More trees will die in the forests. 6. Sulphur dioxide is harmful to human health and property. Many of environment are actually due to the reactions of sulphuric and sulphurous acid.

Bad effects of acid rain. 1. Damage of marble structures. a) The chemical compound in marble is calcium carbonate. b) The acid rain reacts with calcium carbonate to liberate carbon dioxide. CaCO (s) + 2H Ca (aq) + H O (I)

2. Damage to metal structures. a) All acids react eith active metals such as aluminium, iron, and zinc b) Therefore acids increase the rate of corrosion of metal structures. 3. Threat to aquatic life. a) Fish and another aquatic lives, generally live in water with a pH range of 6.5 to 8.4. beyond this range, most aquatic live will not be able to live. b) Acid has the pH range of 0 to 6.9. Therefore acid rain will decrease the pH of water. 4. Damages the soil nutriens of plants. a) Acid rain dissolves minerals in soil to form soluble compound such as sodium salts,potassium salts, calcium salts and aluminium salts. b) Many of these salts are important nutrients for the plants. c) Many of these are soluble in water. When this dissolved salt are washed away by acid rain, the plants will not have enough mineral salts to survive.

Discussion
The uses of sulphate acid are: 1) Fertilizer -phosphate fatilizers -nitrogen -mixed

2) Paints and Pigments -detergents - fibres -rayon -paper

3) Plastic -synthetic rubber -cellphone

4) Merallurgy -cleaning metals

5) Other uses -explosives, electrocytes, insecticides, pharmaceuticals and oil refining.

Conclusion:
Sulphur dioxide is an air pollution which is released into the atmosphere from the burning of sulphur burning of high-sulphur fossil fuels and roasting of metal oxide.

Reference:
Internet; -www.citycollegiate.com -http:http/revisioncentre.co.uk/gcse/chemistry/contactprocess.html

Revision book; -Siri pelangi Sdn. Bhd. Eng Nguan Hong, cetakan pertama 2006 -Memory mastery through mind maps chemistry SPM PNI Neuron (m) Sdn. Bhd. -Kurikulum berdasakrkan sek. men.kimia tingkatan 4, (text book chemistry form 4) percetakan Rica Sdn. Bhd., Yee Sye Fong Cetakan pertama 2001