A molecule of Sulphuric Acid,

H2SO4, consists of two atoms of

hydrogen, one atom of sulphur and four
atoms of oxygen
Also known as: oil of vitriol, brown oil of
vitriol, hydrogen sulphate, acid mist
IMPORTANCE OF SULPHUR
COMPOUNDS

What is sulphur?
Sulphur, S, is a chemical element
with an atomic number of 16 and
melting and boiling points of 115.2
C and 444.7 C respectively.

IMPORTANCE OF SULPHUR COMPOUNDS
Sulphur is very important as it used in many
items and processes. About 0.1% of the
Earths crust consists of sulphur. It is found as
the element in salt domes in the USA and
Mexico and associated with other mineral in
various parts of Europe. About 90% of the
sulphur mined is used in the production of
sulphuric acid.

The other 10% is used to make or is used in the
following:

Vulcanisation: In the manufacture of tyres, sulphur is added to
the rubber to make the tyre harder. The rubber becomes less
sticky. An accelerator is also added to speed up the process.
Carbon disulphide: This is used for making the polymers rayon
and cellophane, used in woodpulping.
Sulphur Powder: This is used as a fungicide for plants such as
strawberries and vines.
Pharmaceuticals: Some drugs and medicines contain sulphur
compounds, e.g. Sulphonamindes.
Organic Sulphur compounds: Used in dyes and agrochemicals

Sulphur is burnt in air to produce sulphur dioxide, which is required for
the manufacture of sulphuric acid, in the contact process. However
it has many other uses as well. These are:
Food Preservation: Sulphur Dioxide Preserves food and drinks by
killing any bacteria that is present. Also, because it is a reducing
agent, it acts as an antioxidant, which prevents food and drinks
from reacting with air.
Bleaching: It is used as bleach during the manufacture of paper
from wood pulp. It is very useful for bleaching silk, wool, straw
which are usually damaged by stronger bleaches, like chlorine.
In addition sulphur dioxide is sometimes used as a refrigerant and
in chemistry, liquid SO2 is used as an inert solvent.


Among many others, sulphuric acid is used:
To make ammonium sulphate, a fertilizer
As a cleaning agent for metal surfaces
As an electrolyte in lead/ acid car batteries
As a catalyst in various chemical processes
To make detergents
To make dyes and paints
To make corrosion-resistant concrete
BIOLOGICAL ROLE OF SULPHUR
Sulphur is essential to life. It is a minor constituent of fats,
body fluids, and skeletal minerals. Sulphur is a key
component in most proteins since it is contained in the
amino acids methionine and cysteine. Sulphur-sulphur
interactions are important in determining protein tertiary
structure. Hydrogen sulphide (H
2
S) replaces H
2
O in the
photosynthesis of some bacteria. In people, hydrogen
sulphide in very small concentrations can be
metabolized, but in higher concentrations it kills quickly
by preventing respiration. It is insidious in that it deadens
the sense of smellquickly, meaning victims may be
unaware of its presence. It is more toxic than cyanide.

MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID BY
Sulphur burning
SO2 conversion
absorption

Main stages
Sulphur
Air
water

Raw Materials for the contact
process
STAGE ONE:
SULPHUR BURNING
MAKING THE SULPHUR DIOXIDE
In this stage, molten sulphur is burned in an
excess of dry air to produce sulphur dioxide
A gaseous mixture of approx. 10% SO2 & 10%
O2
S(l) + O2(g) ------->SO2



This stage can also be done by heating
sulphide ores in an excess of air
4FeS2 (s) + 11O2 2Fe2O3 (s) + 8SO2 (g)
More Info
STAGE TWO:
SO2 CONVERSION
MAKING THE SULPHUR TRIOXIDE
In this stage, SO2 reacts with more oxygen to
make SO3
The SO2 is passed through a converter which
contains about four layers of a catalyst of
Vanadium (V) Oxide, V2O5
2SO
2
(g) + O
2
(g) 2SO
3
(g) H
O
= -196kJmol
NB:- The reaction is reversible and exothermic
Conditions necessary for the reaction:
450 C
1 atm
Vanadium catalyst
STAGE THREE:
ABSORPTION
MAKING THE CONCENTRATED SULPHURIC ACID
Overall, we can say, in this stage,SO3 reacts
with water to make sulphuric acid
NB:-SO3 cannot be directly added to water as
the reaction is uncontrollable & a fog of
sulphuric acid may be produced
The SO3 has to be dissolved in 98% solution of
H2SO4, producing a liquid called oleum
H
2
SO
4
(l) + SO
3
(g) H
2
S
2
O
7
(l)
CONTD
g)
Oleum can now be reacted safely with water
to produce concentrated double the amount
of H
2
SO
4
used initially
H2S2O7 (l) + H2O(l) 2H2SO4 (aq)
EFFECT OF CHANGING
CONDITIONS

REMEMEBR!!!
2SO
2
(g) + O
2
(g) 2SO
3
(g) H
O
= -196kJmol
Considering the above reaction, in order to
produce the max amount of SO3, the
equilibrium must shift as far as possible to the
right
According to Le Chateliers principle: if a
system in equilibrium is subjected to a change,
the position of equilibrium moves to
counteract the change.

PRESSURE
If the pressure increases, the system will favour the
reaction which produces the LEAST amount of moles of
gas
2SO
2
(g) + O
2
(g) 2SO
3
(g)

There are 3 moles of gas on the left & 2 moles on the
right
Hence, the equilibrium will shift to the RIGHT,
decreasing the pressure
We can therefore deduce that in order to produce the
max amount of SO3, the pressure needs to be as high
as possible (i.e. close to atmospheric pressure)

TEMPERATURE
According to stage 2.
-the forward reaction: 2SO
2
+ O
2

2SO
3
is exothermic (it gives out heat)

-the backward reaction: 2SO
3
2SO
3
+
O
2
is endothermic (it takes in heat)

This means, that if the temperature increases, the
equilibrium will favour the backward reaction and
will shift to the LEFT:
Increasing temp
Producing more SO2 and O2

g) If the temp is lowered, the equum will shift
to the RIGHT as it favours the forward
reaction:
Decreasing temp
Producing more SO3

Therefore in order to get the max amount
of SO3 produced, the temp must be as low
i.e.
450 C
CONTD
CATALYST
The catalyst increases the rate of the
reaction but does not affect the
position of the equilibrium

Its only function is to speed up the
reaction

IMPACT OF SULPHURIC ACID
INDUSTRY

In the Contact Process used to make sulphuric
acid, sulphur dioxide or sulphur trioxide must
not be allowed to escape into the atmosphere
as they are toxic and can cause drastic
changes to the atmosphere.

The emission of SO
2
into the atmosphere plays a major role in the
formation of acid rain.

Acid rain poses as a threat to aquatic life as it reduces the pH of
the water, decreasing their quality of life. It also affects trees
and other plants.
Lakes and streams become acidic when the water itself and
its surrounding soil cannot buffer the acid rain enough to
neutralize it. In areas where buffering capacity is low, acid
rain releases aluminium from soils into lakes and streams
which is highly toxic to many species of aquatic organisms.

The acidic water also dissolves nutrients and minerals in the
soil and then washes them away before trees and other
plants can use them to grow. Coupled with the release of
aluminium, this causes the weaken of trees.

Acid rain also contributes to the corrosion of metals, therefore
buildings can be affected, and the deterioration of paint and stone
(limestone statues, etc.)


SO
2
emissions can cause respiratory
problems.

It causes wheezing and shortness of
breath. SO
2
in the atmosphere can
lead to irritation of the eyes and
throat.


Acid aerosols present in the atmosphere
which include gaseous sulphur dioxide
can present a fire hazard.

The contact of metals with sulphuric acid
spill can result in the liberation of
hydrogen gas which could explode and
causes fires.