Same chapter3 marksDifficulty: Medium
State one use of sulphuric acid in each of three different industries.
Study of Compounds: Sulphuric Acid
3 marksDifficulty: Medium
Describe the contact process for the manufacture of sulphuric acid, giving the equations and the catalyst used.
Original Khojo Papers practice question — not from a past board paper.
Answer
Sulphur or a sulphide is burnt to give sulphur dioxide: S + O2 → SO2. The purified gas with air is passed over vanadium(V) oxide at about 450 °C and 2 atmospheres: 2SO2 + O2 ⇌ 2SO3. The sulphur trioxide is absorbed in concentrated sulphuric acid to give oleum, H2S2O7, which is then diluted carefully with water to give sulphuric acid.
No citable source has been recorded for this record. Treat it as practice material, not as fact.
Explanation
Sulphur trioxide is not absorbed directly in water because the reaction is violent and produces a dense mist of acid.
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