Industrial Study: Sulphuric Acid

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Production of Sulfuric Acid [pic] Uses of Sulfuric Acid • 170 million tonnes produced worldwide yearly; more than any other chemical • Used mainly (75%) to produce fertilisers (source of soluble sulfates) [pic][pic][pic] • To produce superphosphate: [pic] • Other uses include chemical synthesis (nitric acid), metal extraction, petrochemical industry, drying non-reactive gases, manufacture of pharmaceuticals and detergents, electrolyte in lead-acid batteries Strong Acid • Sulfuric acid is a strong diprotic acid: [pic] (virtually complete) [pic] [pic][pic] (much lower [pic]) • Reacts with bases e.g. metal oxides: [pic] Strong Oxidant • In dilute [pic], H+ is oxidant, H2 gas produced: [pic][pic][pic] • In conc. [pic], [pic]is the oxidant – much more powerful (S atom undergoes reduction) → [pic][pic][pic] (or with 2e- to give SO2 or 8e- to give H2S) → [pic][pic][pic] (often with a metal e.g. Zn, Cu, Mg) • Sulfuric acid can be reduced to SO2, S or H2S depending on temp, strength of reductant and mole ratio Dehydrating Agent - has a high affinity for water • e.g. copper sulfate: [pic] • e.g. sucrose: [pic] (or in [pic]) • Used to dry gas mixtures before analysis (bubble through [pic]) → but not bases (e.g. [pic]) or reductants (e.g. [pic]) because they react The Contact Process [pic] • Sulfur dioxide obtained as byproduct of natural gas, crude oil, smelting of sulfide ores of copper, zinc, lead • OR burning sulfur: [pic] (mined from underground by Frasch process) • The sulfur used in burning is a liquid in mist (increases surface area) • Catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide: [pic][pic][pic] (small K, relatively slow) • Vanadium (V) oxide (V2O5) in converter is used as catalyst at 1 atm and 400-500°C, excess O2 (g) (rate/yield) • Double Absorption of sulfur trioxide to

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