Important Question: ICSE 2010 Class 10th (Sulphur dioxide,

Sulphuric acid and Hydrogen sulphide)

Q.1.

i. Give equations for the following conversions:

a. Sulphur dioxide to Sulphur
b. Sulphur dioxide to sodium sulphite
c. sodium sulphite to Sulphur dioxide.
ii. Write the equation for the laboratory preparation of Sulphur dioxide from sodium
sulphite.
a. How is the SO2 collected?
b. What does the method of collection tell you about the density of SO2?
c. What do you see when SO2 is bubbled through an acidified K2Cr2O7 solution?
iii. Write one equation in each case to show the action of Sulphur dioxide as:
a. a reducing agent
b. an oxidizing agent
c. an acid anhydride.
iv. When burning Sulphur [i.e. SO2 ] reacts with H2O, a compound is formed. Name the
compound.
v. Give the balanced equation for reaction between SO2 and moist Cl2.
vi. Write a balanced equation for: SO2 and sodium hydroxide solution. [formation of normal
salt].
vii. What type of substance will liberate Sulphur dioxide from sodium sulphite.
(viii) Write the equation for the reaction by which Sulphur dioxide is converted into
sodium sulphite.

Ans.

i. (a) 2Mg [heated] + SO2 → 2 MgO + S.

(b) 2NaOH SO 2 → Na2 SO3 + H 2 O.
(c) Na2SO3+ H 2 SO4 → Na2 SO4 + H 2O + SO 2
Na2SO3 + 2 HCl → 2NaCl + H2 O + SO2.
ii. (a) Na2SO 3 + 2 HCl → 2 NaCl + H 2O + SO 2.
(b) Sulphur dioxide is collected by upward displacement of air.
(c) Sulphur dioxide is 2 .2 times heavier than air.
(d) When SO 2 is bubbled through acidified solution of K2Cr2O7, the orange colour of
potassium dichromate solution turns to clear green due to formation of chromium sulphate:
K2Cr2O 7 + H2 SO 4 + 3SO 2 → Cr2 (SO 4)2 + H 2O.
iii. (a) 2HNO3 + SO2 → 2 NO 2 + H2 SO 4.
(b) 2Mg [heated] + SO 2 → 2 MgO + S.
 (c) H2 O + SO 2 → H 2 SO3 .
iv. sulphurous acid.
v. SO 2 + Cl2 + 2 H2 O → 2HCl + H2 SO 4.
vi. 2NaOH + SO2 → Na2 SO3 + H 2 O.
vii. Any mineral acid HCl, H2 SO 4 or HNO 3.
viii. Na2O + SO 2 → Na2 SO 3

Q. 2

i. Give one similarity and two differences between bleaching action of SO2 gas and chlorine
gas.
ii. From the following gases – ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen chloride, Sulphur dioxide, select
the gas that matches the description given below and answer the questions that follow: Gas
A is a reducing agent which contains oxygen.
(a) What is the name of the gas A?
(b) What would you observe if gas A is bubbled through acidified potassium dichromate
solution.
iii. Write the observations and balanced equations for the reaction: A paper dipped in
potassium permanganate solution is put on the mouth of a test-tube containing Sulphur
dioxide gas.
iv. From the gases – ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulphide, Sulphur dioxide –
select the following:
(a) This gas can be oxidized to Sulphur.
(b) This gas decolourises potassium permanganate solution.
(c) This gas can be obtained by the reaction between copper and concentrated sulphuric
acid.
v. The bleaching action of Cl2 is permanent whereas the bleaching action of SO2 is
temporary.
(a) Give a reason why chlorine is not used to bleach silk.
(b) State the similarity in the use of Sulphur dioxide and chlorine as bleaching agent.
(c) Explain the bleaching action of Sulphur dioxide with the help of chemical equations.
(d) Why is bleaching by Sulphur dioxide only temporary.
vi. State what is observed when Sulphur dioxide is passed through a jar containing bromine
water.
vii. Give a reason why Sulphur dioxide is used as an antichlor.

Ans.

i.

Chlorine Sulphur dioxide

Similarity : Presence of Cl2 + H2O → HCl + SO 2 + 2H 2O →
moisture is essential for HOCl H2SO 4 + [H]
 HOCl H2SO 4 + [H]
bleaching.
Dissimilarity 1. Bleaches by oxidation. 1. Bleaches by
reduction.
2. Bleaching is 2. Bleaching is
permanent. temporary.
3. Strong bleaching 3. Mild bleaching
agent. agent.

ii.
Sulphur dioxide.
Orange coloured acidified potassium dichromate solution changes to green.

iii. Pink colour of paper is disappeared.

2 KMnO 4 + 2 H2 O + 5SO2 → 2 MnSO4 + K2 SO4 + 2 H 2 SO4 .

iv. Hydrogen sulphide.

Sulphur dioxide.
Sulphur dioxide.

v. Chlorine damages the silk.

Both act as bleaching agents in presence of moisture.
SO 2 (g) + 2 H2 O → H 2 SO4 (aq.) + 2[H]
2 [H] + colouring matter → Colourless matter.
Because oxygen present in air oxidizes the reduced dye.

vi. Red colour of bromine water disappears.

vii. Sulphur dioxide acts as a reducing agent, reduces halogens to hydrogen halides.
SO 2 + 2 H2 O + Cl2 → 2HCl + H2 SO 4

Q.3.

i. Name the oxide of Sulphur which reacts with water to give sulphuric acid.
ii. In the Contact Process, the direct reaction between oxide of Sulphur and water is avoided.
In this process, what does the oxide of Sulphur react with instead of water and what is the
name of the product?
iii. (a) What is the purpose of the Contact Process.
(b) Name the catalyst used in the Contact Process.
(c) Write the balanced equation for the reaction in the process which takes place in the
 presence of catalyst.
iv. (a) Name the catalyst used industrially which speeds up the conversion of SO2 and SO3 in
the production of sulphuric acid in the laboratory or industrially.
(b) Write the equation for the conversion of Sulphur dioxide to Sulphur trioxide. Why
does this reaction supply energy.
(c) What is the name of the compound formed between SO3 and sulphuric acid.
v. State the name of the process by which H2SO4 is manufactured. Name the catalyst used.
vi. Name the catalyst which helps in the conversion of Sulphur dioxide to Sulphur trioxide.
vii. In the Contact Process for the manufacture of sulphuric acid, Sulphur trioxide is not
converted to sulphuric acid by reacting it with water. Instead a two-step procedure is used.
Write the equations for the two steps involved.
viii. Name the process used for the large scale manufacture of sulphuric acid.

Ans.

i. Sulphur trioxide.
ii. Concentrated sulphuric acid. Oleum or Pyrosulphuric acid.
iii. (a) To manufacture sulphuric acid.
(b) Vanadium pentaoxide or platinised asbestos.
(c) V2 O 2
2 SO 2 + O2 → 2 SO 3
450ºC
iv. (a) Vanadium pentaoxide or platinised asbestos.
(b) V 2O 2
2 SO 2 + O2 → 2 SO 3
450ºC
The reaction supplies energy as the reaction is exothermic in nature.
(c) Oleum or Pyrosulphuric acid.
v. H 2SO4 is manufactured by Contact Process. The catalyst used in the process is Vanadium
pentaoxide or Platinised asbestos.
vi. Vanadium pentaoxide or Platinised asbestos.
vii. SO 3 + H2 SO 4 → H2 S2 O 7 (Oleum).
H 2S2O7 + H 2 O → 2 H2 SO 4 .
viii. Contact Process

Q.4.

i. Write correctly balanced equation for the reaction between Iron and dilute sulphuric acid.
ii. Write correctly balanced equations for the reaction of dilute sulphuric acid with each of
the following
(a) Copper carbonate
(b) Lead nitrate solution
(c) Zinc hydroxide.
iii. Write a balanced equation for the reaction between zinc and dilute sulphuric acid.
iv. Write equation for
 iv.
(a) Dilute H2 SO4 – producing H2 .
(b) Between Pb(NO3)2 solution and dil. H2SO4.
v. State the substance/s reacted with dilute or concentrated sulphuric acid to form the
following gases:
(a) Hydrogen (b) Carbon dioxide.
State whether the acid used in each case is dilute or concentrated.
vi. Write the equation for the laboratory preparation of:
(a) Sodium sulphate using dilute sulphuric acid.
(b) Lead sulphate using dilute sulphuric acid.
vii. Write balanced equation for the reaction between
(a) Potassium hydrogen carbonate and dilute sulphuric acid.
(b) Sodium nitrate and concentrate sulphuric acid.
viii. What do you see when concentrated sulphuric acid is added to copper sulphate-5-water.
ix. “Concentrated sulphuric acid is used in the laboratory preparation of nitric acid and
hydrochloric acid because it is ________ [less volatile / stronger] in comparison to these
two acids.”
x. Write the equations for the laboratory preparation of the following salts using sulphuric
acid.
(a) Copper sulphate from copper.
(b) Lead sulphate from lead nitrate.
xi. Choose the property of sulphuric acid (A, B, C or D), which is relevant to each of the
preparations [a] to [c]
A: Dil. acid (typical acid properties), B: Non-volatile acid, C: Oxidizing agent, D:
Dehydrating agent.
(a) Preparation of hydrogen chloride.
(b) Preparation of ethane from ethanol.
(c) Preparation of copper sulphate from copper oxide.
xii. Which property of sulphuric acid accounts for its use as a dehydrating agent.
xiii. Concentrated sulphuric acid is both an oxidizing agent and a non-volatile acid. Write one
equation each to illustrate the above mentioned properties of sulphuric acid.

Ans.

i. Fe + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → FeSO4 + H 2 .

ii. (a) CuCO3 + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → CuSO4 + H 2O + CO2.
(b) Pb(NO 3 )2 + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → PbSO4 ↓ + 2HNO3.
(c) Zn(OH)2 + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → ZnSO4 + 2H 2O.
iii. Zn + H2 SO 4 (dil.) → ZnSO 4 + H2.
iv. (a) Zn + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → ZnSO4 + H 2.
(b) Pb(NO 3 )2 + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → PbSO4 ↓ + 2HNO3.
v. (a) Active metals like Zn or Fe with dilute sulphuric acid.
(b) Carbonates or bicarbonates of metals with dilute sulphuric acid.
vi. (a) Na2O + H2 SO 4 (dil.) → Na2 SO 4 + H2O.
2 NaOH + H2 SO 4 (dil.) → Na2 SO 4 + 2 H2 O.
 Na2SO3 + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → Na2 SO4 + H 2O + SO 2 .
2 NaHSO 3 + H2 SO 4 (dil.) → Na2 SO 4 + 2 H2 SO 4 + 2SO2 .
(b) Pb(NO 3 )2 + H 2 SO4 (dil.) → 2 HNO 3 + PbSO 4 ↓
vii. (a) 2KHCO 3 + H2 SO 4 (dil.) → K2 SO 4 + 2H 2O + 2CO2.
(b) NaNO3 + H 2 SO4 (conc.) → NaHSO 4 + HNO3 (vap.)
viii. H 2SO4
CuSO4.5H2 O → CuSO 4 + 5H2 O.
[blue hydrous] [conc.] [white anhydrous]
ix. Less volatile.
x. (a) Cu + 2 H 2 SO4 (conc.) → CuSO4 + 2H 2O + SO 2.
(b) Pb(NO 3 )2 + H 2 SO4 → 2 HNO 3 + PbSO4 ↓.
xi. (a) B (non-volatile acid). (b) D (dehydrating agent). (c) A (dilute acid).
xii. Sulphuric acid’s high affinity for water accounts for its use as a dehydrating agent.
xiii. Oxidizing agent :
S + 2H 2SO4 (conc.) → 3SO 2 + 2 H2O.
Non volatile acid :
2 NaNO 3 + H2 SO 4 (conc.) → Na2 SO4 + 2 HNO 3 .

Q.5.

i. What do you observe when barium chloride solution is added to dilute sulphuric acid.
ii. Supply the word (or words) that will make the sentence into a correct statement and
rewrite the sentence. Copper sulphate crystals are dehydrated by sulphuric acid.
iii. Explain how a reagent chosen from ammonium hydroxide, barium chloride, sodium
chloride, sodium hydroxide, sulphuric acid and nitric acid enables to distinguish between
the two acids mentioned therein.

Ans.

i. A white precipitate of barium sulphate is formed which is insoluble in all mineral acids.
ii. Blue hydrous copper sulphate turns into white anhydrous copper sulphate due to removal of
water of crystallization by concentrated sulphuric acid.
iii. With BaCl2 solution, sulphuric acid will give white precipitate while nitric acid will not give
any precipitate.

Q.6.

i. When H2 S reacts with oxidizing agents, what substance is always a product of the
reaction.
ii. State the colour of the precipitate formed when H2S is bubbled through copper sulphate
solution.
iii. State how you can obtain H2 S from iron (II) sulphide.
iv. Name a gas which smells of rotten eggs.
v. What is observed when hydrogen sulphide gas is passed through lead acetate solution.
 v.
vi. Select the correct compound from the list given – Ammonia, Copper oxide, Copper
sulphate, Hydrogen chloride, Hydrogen sulphide, Lead bromide – which matches the
description given below: The compounds smells of rotten eggs.

Ans.

i. Sulphur.
ii. Black precipitate of CuS.
CuSO4 + H 2 S → CuS ↓ + H2 SO 4 .
iii. Hydrogen sulphide is obtained by the action of dilute H2SO 4 on iron (II) sulphide.
iv. Hydrogen sulphide.
v. hen hydrogen sulphide gas is passed through lead acetate solution, black coloured precipitate of
lead sulphide is formed.
Pb(CH 3 COO)2 + H2 S → PbS ↓ + 2CH 3COOH.
vi. Hydrogen sulphide.

Q.7.

i. Dilute sulphuric acid will produce a white precipitate when added to a solution of :
A: Copper nitrate, B: Zinc nitrate,
C: Lead nitrate, D: Sodium nitrate.
ii. Which of the following reactions is used to prepare sulphuryl chloride.
A: Adding conc. H2 SO4 to a chloride.
B: Passing SO2 through a solution of chlorine.
C: Reacting dry SO2 and dry chlorine.
D: Reacting dil. H2SO4 with a solution of chlorine.
iii. Identify the following substances (a) Gas C has a smell like rotten eggs. (b) Gas D is
colourless gas which can be used as a bleaching agent. (c) Liquid E can be dehydrated to
produce ethane.
iv. Write the equation for the following reaction : Sulphur dioxide and water.
v. Copy and complete the following table relating to an important industrial process and its
final output.

Name of Inputs Catalyst Equation for Output

process catalyzed
reaction
Contact Sulphur
process dioxide +
oxygen
vi. Making use only of substance given : dil. Sulphuric acid, Sodium carbonate, Zinc, Sodium
sulphite, Lad, Calcium carbonate : Give equations for the reactions by which you could
obtain : (a) hydrogen (b) sulphur dioxide (c) carbon dioxide (d) zinc carbonate [2 steps
 required].
vii. What property of conc. H2 SO4 is used in the action when sugar turns black in its presence.
viii. Write the equation for (a) dil. H2SO4 and barium chloride, (b) dil. H2SO4 and sodium
sulphide.
ix. Which property of conc. H2 SO4 allows it to be used in the preparation of HCl and HNO3
acids.

Ans :

i. C : Lead nitrate.
ii. C: Reacting dry SO 2 and dry chlorine.
iii. (a) C is hydrogen sulphide (b) D is sulphur dioxide (c) E is ethanol.
iv. SO 2 + H2 O → H2 SO 3 .
v.

Name of Inputs Catalyst Equation for Output

process catalyzed
reaction
Contact Sulphur V 2O 5 or Pt + O2 → H 2SO4
2 SO 2
process dioxide + 2 SO3+ ∆
oxygen

vi. (a) Zn + H 2 SO4 → ZnSO4 + H 2 (b) Na2SO 3 + H2SO 4 → Na2SO4 + H 2O + SO 2 (c) Na2 CO3
+ H2SO 4 → Na2 SO 4 + H2 O + CO 2 (d) Zn + H 2SO4 → ZnSO 4 + H2O + SO2
ZnSO4 + CaCO3 → ZnCO3 + CaSO4.
vii. Dehydrating agent.
viii. (a) BaCl2 + H 2SO4 → BaSO 4 ↓ + 2HCl
(b) Na2S + H2 SO 4 → Na2 SO4 + H 2S
ix. Less volatile or non-volatile acid with a high boiling point.