CHAPTER 9 :

MANUFACTURED
SUBSTANCES IN
INDUSTRY
• 9.1 SULPHURIC ACID
• 9.1.1 Properties of sulphuric acid
• 1. Sulphuric acid is a strong mineral acid.
2. Its molecular formula is H2SO 4.
3. It is soluble in water.

Figure 9.1 A molecule of

sulphuric acid.
• 4. Sulphuric acid is a non-volatile diprotic
acid.
5. It is a highly corrosive, dense and oily
liquid.
6. Concentrated sulphuric acid is a viscous
colourless liquid.
Figure 9.2 Properties of sulphuric acid
• 9.1.2 The uses of sulphuric acid
• The large-scale manufacture of this acid is
extremely important as it is the most com
mon acid used in industry, with over 1 000
million metric tonnes being produced annu
ally.
• It is manufactured by the Contact Process.
 STAGES 1

PRODUCTION OF
SULPHUR DIOXIDE
IN THE FURNACE
• Combustion of Sulphur sulphur + oxygen sulphur dioxid
e
S (s) + O2 (g) ---> SO2 (g) or
Heating of metal sulphide such as lead(II) sulphide 2PbS
(s) + 3O2(g) ---> 2PbO(s) + 2SO2(g) or Combustion of hi
ydrogen sulphide 2H2S(g) + 3O2(g) ---> 2SO2(g) + 2H2
O(ce)
• The raw materials are sulphur and air (oxygen). Sulphur
dioxide is produced by burning either sulphur or ores whi
ch contain sulphur.
• Purification of sulphur dioxide
• The sulphur dioxide is then purified, by removing impuriti
es like arsenic compounds which would otherwise poison
the catalyst.
• It is then passed through an electrostatic dust precipitato
r, which, as its name implies, charges dust particles whic
h are then removed by being attracted to oppositely char
ged plates.
Stage 2
 Formation of Sulphur trioxide sulphur dioxide + o
xygen ---> sulphur trioxide 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) ---
> 2SO3 (g)
Catalyst: vanadium(V) oxide
Temperature: 450°C
Pressure: 2-3 atmospheres
• Sulphur dioxide and air are then washed, dried a
nd passed over a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst at
450°C and 2-3 atmospheres.
• The reaction is reversible but at these temperatu
res and pressures, 98% conversion to sulphur tri
oxide is achieved:
• This reaction is exothermic, which means it favo
urs a low temperature for high conversion to sulp
hur trioxide.
Stage 3
• Formation of oleum H2S2O7
sulphur trioxide + concentrated sulphuric a
cid ¾¾®oleum SO3(g) + H2SO4(aq) --->
H2S2O7(l)
• The next step is to dissolve the sulphur trio
xide produced in concentrated sulphuric a
cid, to form oleum, or fuming sulphuric aci
d.
Stage 4
• Formation of Sulphuric acid Oleum + water ---> s
ulphuric acid H2S207 (1) + H2O (1) ---> 2H2SO
4(aq)
• This oleum is then diluted with water to the requi
red strength of acid:
• Although this may seem a roundabout route to ta
ke to form the acid, it is necessary because sulp
hur trioxide cannot be dissolved directly in water
as it reacts too violently, forming tiny droplets of
sulphuric acid which are very difficult to remove.