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1.Sulphuric acid is a highly corrosive strong mineral acid with the molecular
formula H2SO4.
2.Sulphuric acid is a diprotic acid.
3.Sulphuric acid has a wide range of applications. It is also a central substance in
the chemical industry.
2.
3.
Stage 1
1.
2.
S+O2SO2S+O2SO2
3.
Sulphur dioxide can also be produced by burning metal sulphide such as lead(II)
sulphide or zinc sulphide in dry air.
2PbS+3O22PbO+2SO22PbS+3O22PbO+2SO2
Stage 2
1.
2.
3.
b.
Pressure: 2 3 atm
2. About 99.5% of the sulphur dioxide, SO2 is converted into sulphur trioxide, SO3
through this reversible reaction.
Stage 3
Sulphur trioxide is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid to form oleum H2S2O7.
SO3+H2SO4H2S2O7SO3+H2SO4H2S2O7
Stage 4
The oleum, H2S2O7 is then diluted with water to produce concentrated sulphuric acid,
H2SO4 in large quantities.
H2S2O7+H2O2H2SO4H2S2O7+H2O2H2SO4
Note:
1.
The two reactions in the third and fourth stages are equivalent to adding sulphur
trioxide, SO3 directly to water.
SO3+H2OH2SO4SO3+H2OH2SO4
2.
However, this is not done in industry because sulphur trioxide, SO 3 reacts too
violently with water.
3.
This produces a lot of heat and a large cloud of sulphuric acid, H 2SO4 mist.
4.
Summary
Health Effects
1. SO2 is an irritant when it is inhaled and at high concentrations may cause
severe problems in asthmatics such as narrowing of the airways, known as
bronchoconstriction.
2. Asthmatics are considerably more sensitive to the effects of SO 2 than
other individuals.
Sources of SO2
1. The principal source of SO2 is from the combustion of fossil fuels in
domestic premises and , more importantly, non-nuclear power stations.
2. Other industrial processes such as manufacturing of sulphuric acid also
contribute to the presence of SO2 in the air.