PRODUCTION OF

SULFURIC ACID
MAKING SULFURIC ACID is called THE CONTACT PROCESS

This is a 3 stage process: Concentrated sulfuric acid is used in car

batteries, making fertilisers, soaps and
1. Production of sulfur dioxide, by burning it in air (OXIDISED) detergents

S (s) + O2(g) → SO2 (g)

2. The main stage is a REVERSIBLE REACTION:
Sulfur dioxide is oxidised further to make sulfur trioxide using a vanadium(V) oxide,
V2O5, catalyst:

2SO2 (g)+ O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g)

● The conditions for this main stage of production are:
○ A temperature of 450 ºC
○ A pressure of 2 atm (200 kPa)
○ Vanadium (V) Oxide Catalyst
1. Once sulfur trioxide is formed it is reacted with water to make sulfuric acid (H 2SO4)

SO3 (g) + H2O (l) → H2SO4 (aq)

You may have to justify the conditions in the second stage of the contact
process as this is an equilibrium reaction (see next slide)

2SO2 (g)+ O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g)

The forward reaction is EXOTHERMIC

CONDITIONS

○ A temperature of 450 ºC
○ A pressure of 2 atm (200 kPa)
○ Vanadium (V) Oxide Catalyst
Answer these exam questions in your book