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Sulphuric Acid Notes

The document summarizes the industrial contact process for manufacturing sulfuric acid. It involves 3 main stages: (1) production of sulfur dioxide gas from burning sulfur or metal sulfides, (2) conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide using a catalyst at high temperatures, (3) reaction of sulfur trioxide with water to form sulfuric acid. Key aspects of the contact process include using a vanadium oxide catalyst at 450-550°C and 1 atmosphere of pressure to maximize sulfur trioxide production from sulfur dioxide and oxygen.

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498 views1 page

Sulphuric Acid Notes

The document summarizes the industrial contact process for manufacturing sulfuric acid. It involves 3 main stages: (1) production of sulfur dioxide gas from burning sulfur or metal sulfides, (2) conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide using a catalyst at high temperatures, (3) reaction of sulfur trioxide with water to form sulfuric acid. Key aspects of the contact process include using a vanadium oxide catalyst at 450-550°C and 1 atmosphere of pressure to maximize sulfur trioxide production from sulfur dioxide and oxygen.

Uploaded by

wen wei
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Industrial Process in the manufacture of sulphuric acid

1. Manufactured by the contact process in the industry


2. Raw materials used in the contact Process: Sulphur, Air and Water
3. Contact Process involved 3 stages
Notes: Contact process
 modern industrial method of producing sulfuric acid 1 2 3
 Sulfur dioxide and oxygen, passed over a hot catalyst
 form sulfur trioxide combines with water to make sulfuric acid.
Flowchart of the Contact Process:

Stage 1(Production of Sulphur dioxide gas, SO₂)


-This can be done by two methods:
1. Burning of Sulphur in dry air in the furnace. S + O₂ → SO₂
2. Burning of metal sulphide such as zinc sulphide/ iron (III) sulphide in dry air. 2ZnS + 3O₂ → 2SO₂ + 2ZnO

Stage 2(Sulphur Dioxide → Sulphur Trioxide, SO₃)


-Sulphur dioxide is dried and purified before being added to dry air to produce Sulphur trioxide gas. This is because
1) To remove water vapour in the air. (The reaction of water with SO₃ will produce heat that will vaporize the acid)
2) To remove contaminants (arsenic compound). It will poison the catalyst and catalyst will become ineffective.

-Pure and dry Sulphur Dioxide + Excess dry oxygen passes through a converter.

-The reaction is equilibrium. 2SO₂ + O₂ ↔ 2SO₃. Notes:


Exothermic process
-A high percentage of Sulphur trioxide is produced when:  process or reaction that
releases energy from the
1) Presence of catalyst, Vanadium (V) oxide, V₂O₅. This is an exothermic process.
system
2) Temperature between 450℃-550℃  form of heat, light, electricity,
3) A pressure of 1 atmosphere or sound.

Question:

1) What is the Process of Manufacturing Sulphuric acid?


Ans. Contact Process
2) How many stages is there in the contact process? List it out.
Ans. 3
1
3) What are the two methods to produce Sulphur dioxide gas?
2 3
Ans. Burning of Sulphur and Burning of metal sulphide
4) Why should we dry and purify the Sulphur dioxide gas?
Ans. To remove water vapour and contaminants
5) How can we increase the production of Sulphur trioxide?
Ans. Presence of catalyst, Temperature between 450-550, Pressure of one atmosphere

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