Team Leader: Arina Saw Hung Shan

Members:
- Ashvini (None)
- Chan Qing Yan (Presenter)
- Chen Yuann Chyn (Data Collector)
- Chew Jun Yi (Presentation Creator)

9.1- Sulphuric Acid

The Uses of Sulphuric Acid in Daily

Life
The Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid
Environmental Pollution by Sulphur
Dioxide

 Sulphuric acid is one of the most important industrial

chemicals. It has widely varied uses and plays some part
in the production of nearly all manufactured goods.
Sulphuric acid is one of the most important industrial
chemicals. About 140 milliontonnes are manufactured in
the world every year.
It is used in most industries ranging from agriculture
fertilizers to paints, soap and cleaning of rust.
The main use of sulphuric acid is in producing fertilizers,
particularly ammonium phosphate and ammonium
sulphate.

Calcium hydrogen phosphate is formed when

sulphuric acid reacts with calcium phosphate
2H2SO4 + Ca2(PO) -> Ca(H2PO) + 2CaSO4

Ammonium sulphate is prepared from the reaction

between sulphuric acid and aqueous ammonia
H2SO4 + 2NH3 -> (NH4)2SO4

Potassium sulphate is the product of the reaction

between sulphuric acid and potassium hydroxide
H2SO4 + 2KOH -> K2SO4 + 2H2O

Dilute sulphuric acid solution is used as an

electrolyte in lead-acid accumulator cells which
are used in motor vehicles.

 Artificial synthetic fibres are a type of polymers.

eg: Rayon is produced from the action of sulphuric
acid on cellulose.
Detergents are synthetic cleaning agents.
eg: Sulphuric acid reacts with hydrocarbon and is
then neutralized with sodium hydroxide to produce
detergent.

Neutralisation of sulphuric acid

with barium hydroxide produces
barium sulphate which is the
white pigment in paint.
H2SO4 + 2BaOH -> Ba2SO4 + 2H2O

Used as
Drying agent

Oxidising agent

Explanation
Concentrated sulphuric acid is generally used to
dry
gas in the laboratory. However it is not suitable
to dry alkaline
gases such as ammonia.
Concentrated sulphuric acid copper (II)sulphate
is used,
2H2SO4(l) + Cu(s) -> CuSO4(aq) + 2H2O(l) +
SO2(g)
However, dilute sulphuric acid does not react
with copper.

Dehydrating agent

When concentrated sulphuric acid is added to

sugar, a violent
reaction occurs. The water content in the sugar
is extracted by
the acid and the sugar becomes carbon.

The Manufacture of Sulphuric

Acid

Sulphuric acid is manufactured from theraw materials sulphur,

air and waterand involves the production of sulphur trioxide in
the Contact Process.

It is the current method of producingsulphuric acidin the high

concentrations needed for industrial processes.

Production of sulphur dioxide gas, SO2 by burning sulphur

with air.
In the reaction, sulphur is oxidised.
S(s) + O2(g) -> SO2(g)

Conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide, SO 3.

In the reactor, the sulphur dioxide is mixed with air to give
the required SO2:O22:1 ratio.
The conditions of the catalytic converter are as follows:
- Vanadium(V) oxide, V2O5, or Platinum is used as a catalyst
- A high temperature of 450oC-550oC
- A pressure of one atmosphere
Sulphur trioxide is then formed through the reaction:
2SO2 + O2 -> 2SO3

Conversion of sulphur trioxide into oleum, then

concentrated sulphuric acid
The sulphur trioxide is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric
acid to form fuming sulphuric acid (oleum).
SO3 + H2SO4 -> H2S2O7
Water is then carefully added to the oleum to produce
concentrated sulphuric acid (98%).
H2S2O7 + H2O -> 2H2SO4

If the sulphur trioxide is added directly to water,

an acid mist forms which is difficult to contain
because the reaction to form sulphuric acid
solution is very exothermic!

 Sulphur dioxide is a poisonous and acidic gas that

can cause environmental pollution.
The sources of sulphur dioxide emission include:
- burning of fossil fuel in motor vehicles and coal
power
stations
- volcanic eruption

Acid Rain
Sulphur dioxide reacts with oxygen to form sulphur trioxide.
2SO2 + O2 -> 2SO3
Both oxides of sulphur dissolve in rainwater to form
sulphurous and sulphuric acids respectively (acid rain).
SO2 + H2O -> H2SO3 (sulphurous acid)
SO3 + H2O -> H2SO4 (sulphuric acid)
Effects of acid rains:
- Corrodes the concrete and steel structures.
- Reduces the pH of the soil and damages the vegetation.
- Destroys the aquatic organisms and its ecosystem.

Health problems
Sulphur dioxide causes respiratory difficulties such as
asthma or bronchitis.
Skin irritation may occur, and may become white or yellow.
Blistering, necrosis (dead skin) and gangrene can also
develop.
Mild to severe irritation may occur in the eyes. Sulphur
dioxidecan cause temporary corneal burns, whereas liquid
sulphur dioxidecan burn the eye(s) and permanently affect
vision.