Sulphuric Acid; uses, preparation and chemical properties.

Introduction:-

Sulphuric acid is acknowledged as the “King of Chemicals” due to its main constituency in imperative chemicals. Sulphuric acid is the cheapest chemical abundantly available. 

What is sulphuric acid?

Sulphuric acid (once known as oil of vitriol) is a colourless, odourless and oily compound. At all different concentrations, it is miscible in water and reacts vigorously producing a large amount of heat. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are their constituents. It can be found in both combined and free-state.

Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid:-

There are two common techniques to produce sulphuric acid

• Lead chamber process
• Contact process

Lead chamber process:-

The lead chamber process is the most common method to produce commercial sulphuric acid. It is highly opted due to its simplicity, less uncertainty, high yield ratio and economical benefits.

Sulphuric acid is produced in two basic steps:

1. Sulphur dioxide I made to react with atmospheric oxygen to produce sulphur trioxide.

               2SO2 + O2 →2SO3

1. Sulphur trioxide is decomposed in water to give desired sulphuric acid.

               SO3 + H2O→H2SO4

Contact process:-

Sulphuric acid can be found naturally in rock ores of ferrous, residues of volcanoes. The contact process is used to obtain pure sulphuric acid of concentration 99%.

• Iron ore is heated with oxygen to produce sulphur dioxide.
• Then sulphur dioxide is again heated with oxygen to produce sulphur trioxide, the overall reaction is exothermic and reversible.
• Now a catalyst Vanadium pentaoxide is added to increase the oxidation without affecting the amount of yield being produced.
• Now sulphur trioxide is broken down into sulphuric acid which gives pyruvic acid (oleum).

                S03 + H2SO4→H2S2O7

• Water is added to pyruvic acid to achieve the desired concentration of commercial sulphuric acid.

                  H2O + H2S2O7→2H2SO4

Chemical Properties:-

1. Sulphuric acid is strong acid so it is highly corrosive.
2. Sulphuric acid ionizes in water to give Hydronium ions and Hydrogen Sulphate ions. Moreover, if the solution is diluted, Hydrogen Sulphate ions will dissociate to give more Hydronium ions and Sulphate ions.
3. Being a strong oxidizing agent, it readily reacts with metals, non-metals, carbon and others. 
4. In diluted solutions, Sulphuric acid is a strong dehydrating agent so it can expel water from such solutions.

 

       Applications:-

1. One of its most familiar application is that it is widely used as an electrolyte in lead storage batteries.
2. It is used in the lab for experimentation.
3. It is an essential compound in the manufacture of dyes, drugs, iron and steel, petroleum mining and metallurgical purposes.
4. It is used in the manufacture of daily life chemicals like Hydrochloric Acid, Phosphoric Acid and Nitric Acid.