SULPHURIC ACID

1. Sulphuric acid is a highly corrosive strong mineral acid with the molecular formula
H2SO4.
2. Sulphuric acid is a diprotic acid.
3. Sulphuric acid has a wide range of applications. It is also a central substance in the
chemical industry.

Sulphuric Acid is Manufactured in Industry

1. Sulphuric acid, H2SO4 is manufactured in industry through Contact Process.
2. The raw materials used are sulphur, air and water
3. The Contact process consists of four stages.

Stage 1
1. Molten sulphur is burnt in dry air to produce sulphur dioxide
2. The gas produced is then purified and cooled.

S + 𝑂2 → 𝑆𝑂2
3. Sulphur dioxide can also be produced by burning metal sulphide such as lead(II)
sulphide or zinc sulphide in dry air.
2PbS + 3𝑂2 → 2𝑃𝑏𝑂 + 2𝑆𝑂2

Stage 2
1. In a converter, sulphur dioxide and excess oxygen are passed through vanadium(V)
oxide.
2. vanadium(V) oxide act as catalyst to expedite the process.
3. The optimum condition for maximum amount of product are as follow:

 Temperature: 450 – 550 °C

 Pressure: 1 atm
 4. About 99.5% of the sulphur dioxide, SO2 is converted into sulphur trioxide,
SO3 through this reversible reaction.

Stage 3

Sulphur trioxide is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid to form oleum （H2S2O7）.

𝑆𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 → 𝐻2 𝑆2 𝑂7

Stage 4
The oleum, H2S2O7 is then diluted with water to produce concentrated sulphuric acid,
H2SO4 in large quantities.

𝐻2 𝑆2 𝑂7 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 2𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4

Note:
1. The two reactions in the third and fourth stages are equivalent to adding sulphur
trioxide, SO3 directly to water.
𝑆𝑂3 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4
2. However, this is not done in industry because sulphur trioxide, SO3 reacts too
violently with water.
3. This produces a lot of heat and a large cloud of sulphuric acid, H2SO4 mist.
4. The mist is corrosive, pollutes the air and is difficult to condense.
Summary
Uses of sulphuric acid
1. manufacturing fertiliser
2. manufacturing detergent
3. manufacturing pesticide
4. manufacturing synthetic fibre
5. as electrolyte in lead-acid accumulator
6. removing metal oxide
7. manufacturing paint

Environmental and Health Issues of Sulphur Dioxide

Sulphur dioxide, SO2 is one of the by-products of the Contact Process. It is one of the
sources of environmental pollution.

Acid Rain
1. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) is the pollutant primarily associated with acid rain.
2. Acid rain occurs when pH of the rain is between 2.4 and 5.0. This is due to the
reaction of sulphur dioxide, SO2 with rainwater.

𝑆𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂3
3. The negative effect of acid rains includes

 corrosion of concrete building and metal structure.

 corrosion of monuments and statues made from marble

 causes erosion of top soil.

 killing aquatic life.

Health Effects
1. SO2 is an irritant when it is inhaled and at high concentrations may cause severe
problems in asthmatics such as narrowing of the airways, known as
bronchoconstriction.
2. Asthmatics are considerably more sensitive to the effects of SO2 than other
individuals.
Sources of SO2
1. The principal source of SO2 is from the combustion of fossil fuels in domestic
premises and, more importantly, non-nuclear power stations.
2. Other industrial processes such as manufacturing of sulphuric acid also contribute to
the presence of SO2 in the air.