Sulphuric Acid
Large scale/Industrial Preparation- Contact process
Step 1 - S + O2 SO2
4FeS2 + 11O2 2Fe2O3 +
8SO2
Iron pyrites
Step 2 : 2SO2 + O2 2SO3 +
Catalyst Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5,)
Pressure 1 to 2 atm
Temperature 450 - 500 C
Step 3 :
SO3 + H2SO4 H 2S 2O 7
Oleum or Pyrosulphuric acid
H 2S 2O 7 + H 2O 2H2SO4
Forms sulphuric acid of the desired
concentration.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Colour - Colourless
2. Odour - Odourless
3. Nature - Dense , oily , hygroscopic liquid
Give reason - Conc. sulphuric acid is
kept in air tight bottles.
Constant boiling mixture
Constant Boiling mixture - Forms a constant
boiling mixture boiling at 338 C containing
98.5% of the acid.
GIVE REASON
Dilution of the conc. acid is done by addition of acid to
water
The water is in bulk and the acid being heavier settles
down. The evolved heat is dissipated in the water itself
and hence the spurting of the acid is minimized.
Give reason
Dil. Sulphuric Acid behaves as an acid when
dilute
Acidic properties of sulphuric acid are due to
the presence of hydronium ions [ H3O+ ] formed
when H2SO4 dissociates in aq. solution.
ACTION OF INDICATORS
INDICATOR ORIGINAL COLOUR FINAL COLOUR
Moist litmus Blue Red
Methyl orange Orange Pink
Phenolphthalein Colourless Colourless
Phenolphthalein alkaline Pink Colourless
General equation / word equation -
Typical properties of a dilute acid
Active metal + dil. Acid Salt + hydrogen
Base + dil. Acid Salt + water
Carbonate/ Bicarbonate + dil.Acid Salt + water + carbon dioxide
Sulphite / Bisulphite +dil.Acid Salt + water + sulphurdioxde
Sulphide + dil.Acid Salt + hydrogen sulphide
REACTIONS OF DILUTE SULPHURIC ACID
With metals
Zn + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + H2
dil.
Fe + H2SO4 FeSO4 + H2
dil.
BASES (Neutralisation reaction)
CuO + H2SO4 CuSO4 + H2O
dil.
Zn(OH)2 + H2SO4 ZnSO4 + 2H2O
dil.
Carbonate / Bicarbonate
Na2CO3 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + H2O + CO2
dil.
2KHCO3 + H2SO4 K2SO4 + 2H2O + 2CO2
dil.
Sulphite / Bisulphite
K2SO3 + H2SO4 K2SO4 + H2O + SO2
dil.
2NaHSO3 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + 2H2O + 2SO2
dil.
SULPHIDE
Na2S + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + H2S
dil.
FeS + H2SO4 FeSO4 + H2S
dil.
Give Reason
Sulphuric Acid is a dibasic acid.
Sulphuric Acid dissociates in aqueous solution giving two
hydrogen ions per molecule of the acid
H2SO4 (aq.) 2H+ + SO42-
Conc.Sulphuric Acid
Oxidising Non - volatile Dehydrating
Agent Acid Agent
As an oxidising agent
Metal/ Non metal + H2SO4 Oxidised product +
conc. Water + Sulphur Dioxide
Conc. Sulphuric acid is a strong oxidising agent.
Metals
Cu + 2H2SO4 CuSO4 + 2H2O + SO2
conc.
Zn + 2H2SO4 ZnSO4 + 2H2O + SO2
conc.
Non - Metals
C + 2H2SO4 CO2 + 2H2O + 2SO2
conc.
S + 2H2SO4 3SO2 + 2H2O
conc.
Give Reason
Conc. Sulphuric acid is a least or non -
volatile acid
It has a high boiling point.
Conc. Sulphuric acid as a non - volatile acid
Since it has high boiling point on heating with salts of
more volatile acids conc. Sulphuric acid displaces the
volatile acids from their salts.
Hence, conc. H2SO4 is used in the preparation of hydrogen
chloride and nitric acid.
Lab preparation of HCl (g)
<200 C
NaCl + H2SO4 NaHSO4 + HCl (g)
conc.
< 200 C
KCl + H2SO4 KHSO4 + HCl (g)
conc.
Lab preparation of HNO3
<200 C
NaNO3 + H2SO4 NaHSO4 + HNO3
conc. vapours
<200 C
KNO3 + H2SO4 KHSO4 + HNO3
conc. vapours
As a strong Dehydrating Agent
Conc. H2SO4 removes - elements of water due to its
strong affinity for water that is hydrogen and oxygen in
the ratio 2:1
Conc. H2SO4 also removes water of crystallization from
hydrated salts.
Conc. Sulphuric acid as a dehydrating agent
Glucose
Conc. H2SO4
C6H12O6 6C + 6H2O
Cane sugar (Sucrose)
Conc. H2SO4
C12H22O11 12C + 11H2O
Conc. Sulphuric acid as a dehydrating agent
Ethanol (Ethyl alcohol)
C2H5OH Conc. H2SO4
C2H4 + H2O
(ethene)
Conc. Sulphuric acid as a dehydrating agent
Hydrated salts
Copper sulphate -5 water
Conc. H2SO4
CuSO4.5H2O CuSO4 + 5H2O
(Blue hydrous) (white anhydrous)
Tests for conc. Sulphuric acid
Cu + 2H2SO4 CuSO4 + 2H2O +SO2 (g)
conc.
Test for SO2 - acidified K2Cr2O7 solution orange to clear
green.
Tests for conc. Sulphuric acid
<200 C
NaCl + H2SO4 NaHSO4 + HCl (g)
conc.
Test for HCl - dense white fumes with rod
dipped in NH3 solution.
Test for dil. Sulphuric acid
BaCl2 + H2SO4 2HCl + BaSO4
dil. White ppt
Pb(NO3)2 + H2SO4 2HNO3 + PbSO4
dil. White ppt
Choose the role played by Sulphuric acid in the following reactions
A. Dilute acid B. Dehydrating agent C. Non - volatile acid D. Oxidising acid
conc.H2SO4
i] CuSO4.5H2O CuSO4 + 5H2O
ii] S + 2H2SO4 3SO2 + 2H2O
iii] NaNO3 + H2SO4 NaHSO4 +HNO3
iv] MgO + H2SO4 MgSO4 + H2O
v] Zn + 2H2SO4 ZnSO4 + SO2 + 2H2O
Identify the acid in each case :
i] The acid which produces sugar charcoal from sugar.
ii] The acid on mixing with lead nitrate soln. produces a white
ppt.which is insoluble even on heating.
State your observations :
i] Barium chloride solution is mixed with sodium sulphate solution.
ii] Concentrated sulphuric acid is added to sugar crystals.
iii] Action of concentrated sulphuric acid on hydrated copper
sulphate.
iv] Dilute sulphuric acid added to calcium carbonate.
v] Zinc reacts with dilute sulphuric acid
Name the gas evolved :
1. Reaction of dilute sulphuric acid with a metallic sulphide.
2. Sodium chloride and concentrated sulphuric acid are heated.
3. Copper reacts with concentrated sulphuric acid.
4. Action of dilute sulphuric acid on potassium sulphite.
5. Magnesium added to dilute sulphuric acid.
6. Potassium bicarbonate reacts with dilute sulphuric acid.
A,B,C and D summarize the properties of sulphuric acid
depending on whether it is dilute or concentrated.
A. Typical acid property B. Non - volatile acid C. Oxidising agent
D. Dehydrating agent. Choose the property [A, B, C & D] depending on
which is relevant to each of the following.
a. Preparation of Hydrogen chloride gas
b. Preparation of copper sulphate from copper oxide
c. Action of conc. Sulphuric acid on sulphur
d. Action on glucose.
