<h2>Producing Sulfuric Acid: The Contact Process</h2>
<p>Tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid, other known as sulphuric acid (\(\text{H}_{2}\text{SO}_{4}\)) is produced from sulfur, oxygen and water through the <strong>Contact process</strong>. In the first step, sulfur is burned to produce sulfur dioxide (\(\text{SO}_{2}\)):</p>
<p>\(\text{S}(\text{s}) + \text{O}_{2}(\text{g})\) \(\to\) \(\text{SO}_{2}(\text{g})\)</p>
<p>This is then oxidised to sulfur trioxide (\(\text{SO}_{3}\)) using oxygen in the presence of a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst:</p>
<p>\(2\text{SO}_{2}(\text{g}) + \text{O}_{2}(\text{g})\) \(\rightleftharpoons\) \(2\text{SO}_{3}(\text{g})\)</p>
<p>Finally the sulfur trioxide is treated with water to produce sulfuric acid with a purity of \(\text{98}\) - 99%:</p>
<p>\(\text{SO}_{3}(\text{g}) + \text{H}_{2}\text{O}(\text{l})\) \(\to\) \(\text{H}_{2}\text{SO}_{4}(\text{l})\)</p>
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<h3>Facts:</h3>
<p><span class="st"><strong>Heavy chemicals</strong> are chemicals used extensively in industries and are. produced in very large quantities. Tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid is an example of a heavy chemical. </span><span class="st"><strong>Fine chemicals</strong> are chemicals produced in small quantities for specific purposes. and to a very high degree of purity. </span></p>
<p><span class="st">The <b>contact process</b> is the current method of producing sulfuric acid in the high <a data-lesson="calculations-involving-equilibrium-concentrations" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="basic-equilibrium-concepts" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/basic-equilibrium-concepts/calculations-involving-equilibrium-concentrations">concentrations</a> needed for industrial processes. Platinum used to be the <a data-lesson="effect-of-a-catalyst-on-equilibrium" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="chemical-equilibrium" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/chemical-equilibrium/effect-of-a-catalyst-on-equilibrium">catalyst</a> for this reaction; however, as it is susceptible to reacting with arsenic impurities in the sulfur feedstock, vanadium(V) oxide (V<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>) is now preferred. This process was patented in 1831 by British vinegar merchant Peregrine Phillips. In addition to being a far more economical process for producing concentrated sulfuric acid than the previous lead chamber process, the contact process also produces sulfur trioxide and oleum.</span></p>
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Producing Sulfuric Acid

Chemistry generally explores the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances. 

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Producing Sulfuric Acid

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