Sulphuric Acid

Sulphuric acid is a strong mineral acid with the molecular formula H2SO4. Its historical name is vitriol. The salts of sulphuric acid are called sulphates.Sulphuric acid is soluble in water at all concentrations.Sulphuric acid has many applications, and is a central substance in the chemical industry. A molecule of Sulphuric Acid, H2SO4, consists of two atoms of hydrogen, one atom of sulphur and four atoms of oxygen Sulphuric acid is a colourless viscous corrosive oily liquid, which has
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Melting Point : 10.3 degC Boiling Point : 338 degC Formula weight 98.08 Specific gravity or density 1.94 Flash point none

Sulphuric acid is the strong acid produced by dissolving sulphur trioxide in water. ( SO3 + H2O ==> H2SO4 )

The Strength of Acids is determined by the degree to which they are ionised in aqueous solution. For example, Sulphuric Acid, H2SO4, which is a strong acid is fully dissociated, and all the displaceable hydrogen in the acid is present in solution as Hydrogen Ion, H(+). H2SO4 ==> H(+) + SO4 100% as H(+) In contrast, the weak acids ethanoic acid, CH3COOH, is partially ionised in solution, and only approximately 5% of the displaceable Hydrogen in the acid is present in solution as hydrogen ion, H(+). CH3COOH ==> H(+) + CH3COO(-) 5% as H(+)

Properties of Sulphuric Acid

Reaction with water

The hydration reaction of sulfuric acid is highly exothermic. One should always add the acid to the water rather than the water to the acid. Because the reaction is in an equilibrium that favors the rapid protonation of water, addition of acid to the water ensures that the acid is the limiting reagent. This reaction is best thought of as the formation of hydronium ions: H2SO4 + H2O HSO4 + H2O H3O+ + HSO4 H3O+ + SO42 K1 = 2.4 x 106 (strong acid) K2 = 1.0 x 10-2

HSO4- is the bisulfate anion and SO42- is the sulfate anion. K1 and K2 are the acid dissociation constants. Because the hydration of sulfuric acid is thermodynamically favorable, sulfuric acid is an excellent dehydrating agent, and is used to prepare many dried fruits. The affinity of sulfuric acid for water is sufficiently strong that it will remove hydrogen and oxygen atoms from other compounds; for example, mixing starch (C6H12O6)n and concentrated sulfuric acid will give elemental carbon and water which is absorbed by the sulfuric acid (which becomes slightly diluted): (C6H12O6)n 6n C + 6n H2O

The effect of this can be seen when concentrated sulfuric acid is spilled on paper; the cellulose reacts to give a burnt appearance, the carbon appears much as soot would in a fire. A more dramatic reaction occurs when sulfuric acid is added to a tablespoon of white sugar in a beaker; a rigid column of black, porous carbon will quickly emerge. The carbon will smell strongly of caramel due to the heat generated. Although less dramatic, the action of the acid on cotton, even in diluted form, will destroy the fabric. As an acid, sulfuric acid reacts with most bases to give the corresponding sulfate. For example, the blue copper salt copper(II) sulfate, commonly used for electroplating and as a fungicide, is prepared by the reaction of copper(II) oxide with sulfuric acid: CuO (s) + H2SO4 (aq) CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)

Sulfuric acid can also be used to displace weaker acids from their salts. Reaction with sodium acetate, for example, displaces acetic acid, CH3COOH, and forms sodium bisulfate: H2SO4 + CH3COONa NaHSO4 + CH3COOH

Similarly, reacting sulfuric acid with potassium nitrate can be used to produce nitric acid and a precipitate of potassium bisulfate. When combined with nitric acid, sulfuric acid acts both as an acid and a dehydrating agent, forming the nitronium ion NO+ 2, which is important in nitration reactions involving electrophilic aromatic substitution. This type of reaction, where protonation occurs on an oxygenatom, is important in many organic chemistry reactions, such as Fischer esterification and dehydration of alcohols. Concentrated sulfuric acid reacts with sodium chloride, and gives hydrogen chloride gas and sodium bisulfate: NaCl + H2SO4 NaHSO4 + HCl

Concentrated sulfuric acid also dehydrates sugar, leaving a porous black carbon mass behind. Sulfuric acid does not take part in this reaction, but it decomposes the sugar. During this reaction heat is produced and water vapor is given off. Reaction is as follows: C12H22O11 12C + 11H2O

Sulfuric acid reacts with most metals via a single splacement reaction to produce hydrogen gas and the metal sulfate. Dilute H2SO4 attacks iron, aluminium, zinc, manganese, magnesium andnickel, but reactions with tin and copper require the acid to be hot and concentrated. Lead and tungsten, however, are resistant to sulfuric acid. The reaction with iron shown below is typical for most of these metals, but the reaction with tin produces sulfur dioxide rather than hydrogen. Fe (s) + H2SO4 (aq) Sn (s) + 2 H2SO4 (aq) H2 (g) + FeSO4 (aq) SnSO4 (aq) + 2 H2O (l) + SO2 (g)

These reactions may be taken as typical: the hot concentrated acid generally acts as an oxidizing agent whereas the dilute acid acts a typical acid. Hence hot concentrated acid reacts with tin, zinc and copper to produce the salt, water and sulfur dioxide, whereas the dilute acid reacts with metals high in the reactivity series (such as Zn) to produce a salt and hydrogen.

MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID Sulphuric acid, H2SO4, is one of the most important industrial chemicals. It is an oily liquid having a boiling point of 335 C, which evolves much heat on dilution with water. Millions of tons of sulphuric acid are made every year by the contact process , which converts raw sulphur, oxygen and water to sulphuric acid. Contact Process The contact process is the current method of producing sulfuric acid in the high concentrations needed for industrial processes.

The Contact process involves three stages: Step I: Production of sulphur dioxide gas, SO2. This is done by two methods: (a) Burning of sulphur in air. S + O2 --> SO2 (b) Burning of metal sulphide such as zinc sulphide or iron(III) sulphide in air. 2ZnS + 3O2 --> 2SO2 + 2ZnO Step II: Conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulohur trioxide, SO3 (a) Pure and dry sulphur dioxide with excess dry oxygen(from air) are passed through a converter. (b) A high percentage of sulphur dioxide is converted into sulphur trioxide under the following conditions: (i) The presence of vanadium(V) oxide,V2O5 as a catalyst. (ii) A temperature of 450C 550C. (iii) A pressure of one atmosphere. 2SO2 + O2 <--> 2SO3

Step III: Production of sulphuric acid (a) The sulphur trioxide produced is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid to produce oleum, H2S2O7, a viscous liquid. SO3 + H2SO4 --> H2S2O7 (b) Oleum is then diluted with an equal volume of water to produce concentrated sulphuric acid(98%). H2S2O7 + H2O --> 2H2SO4 Sulphur oxygen In the converter 2SO(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g) Unreacted 2% SO2 is flowed back to converter SO2(g) + H2SO4(aq) H2S2O7(l) H2S2O7(l) + H2O(l) 2H2SO4(aq) together with oxygen

S(s) + O2(g) SO2(g) oxygen

Temperature: 450-500C Pressure:2-3 atmospheres Catalyst: Vanadium(V) oxide

Uses of Sulphuric Acid -Sulfuric acid is the electrolyte used in lead-acid batteries (accumulators) -Sulfuric acid is important in the production of fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate (sulfate of ammonia), (NH4)2SO4, and superphosphate, Ca(H2PO4)2, which is formed when rock phosphate is treated with sulfuric acid. -Sulfuric acid is used to remove oxides from iron and steel before galvanising or electroplating -Concentrated sulfuric acid is used as a dehydrating agent, that is, to remove water, since it has a tendency to form hydrates such as H2SO4.H2O, H2SO4.2H2O, etc. -Sulfuric acid is often used to dry neutral and acidic gases -Sulfuric acid is used in the production of nitroglycerine, an inorganic ester & organic nitrate, which is used as an explosive but can also be used as a vasodilator, a substance that dilates blood vessels and can be used in the treatment of certain types of heart disease

SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION -Sulphur dioxide is a colourless and poisonous gas with pungent smell. -Sulphur dioxide which escapes into the air causes air pollution. -Sulphur dioxide is an acidic which dissolves in water to form sulphurous acidic, H2SO3.

In the atmosphere, sulphur dioxide dissolve in water droplets to form sulphurous acidic. SO2(g) + H2O(l) H2SO3(aq)

-Oxidations of sulphur acid by oxygen produce sulphuric acid, H2SO4, which falls to the earth as acid rain. Sulphur trioxide is also easily oxidised in the air to form sulphur trioxide. Sulphur trioxide dissolve in rainwater to produce sulphuric acid.

SO3(g) + H2O(l)

H2SO4(aq)

Acid rain and environmental pollution

CHEMISTRY ASSIGNMENT
NAME : ANG HUI HUI FUNG HWEI SIN CLASS TITLE SUBMITTED DATE TEACHERS NAME :4 DAHLIA :MANUFACTURED SUBSTANCE IN INDUSTRY :17th June 2011 :EN. HANAFIA