Study of

Compounds
D. Sulphuric
Acid

Grade 10 [ICSE]
 Syllabus
• Its behaviour as an acid when dilute - reaction with
metal, metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal carbonate,
metal bicarbonate, metal sulphite, metal sulphide.
• Concentrated sulphuric acid as an oxidizing agent - the
oxidation of carbon and sulphur.
• Concentrated sulphuric acid as a dehydrating agent-
(a) the dehydration of sugar (b) Copper (II) sulphate
crystals.
• Non-volatile nature of sulphuric acid - reaction with
sodium or potassium chloride and sodium or potassium
nitrate.
 Learning Objectives

1. Introduction
2. Occurrence
3. Preparation of Sulphuric Acid (General or
Laboratory Methods)
4. Preparation of H2SO4 [Contact Process]

5. Properties of H2SO4 [Physical & Chemical]

6. Uses of Sulphuric Acid
7. Tests for Sulphuric Acid
1. Introduction
 1. Introduction
Sulphuric acid is rightly called the 'King of Chemicals'
because there is no other manufactured compound which
is used by such a large number of key industries. In the
later Middle Ages, it was obtained as an oily viscous liquid
by heating crystals of green vitriol, and was, therefore,
known by the name of oil of vitriol.

The sulphur trioxide evolved gets dissolved in water

forming sulphuric acid.
 2. OCCURRENCE

Free state: It is found in certain

mineral springs and is formed by the
action of water on certain sulphides.
 2. OCCURRENCE
Combined state: as Barytes [BaSO4],
Gypsum [CaSO4.2H2O] and Kieserite
[MgSO4.H2O], etc.
 3. PREPARATION OF SULPHURIC
ACID
(1) By oxidation of an aqueous solution of sulphur
dioxide with oxygen, chlorine or bromine.
 3. PREPARATION OF SULPHURIC
ACID
(2) Sulphur with conc. nitric acid:

(3) By dissolving sulphuryl chloride in water :

 4.MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID
[CONTACT PROCESS]

The various steps in the Contact process are as follows:

1) Production of sulphur dioxide

2) Purification of gases
3) Catalytic oxidation of sulphur dioxide
4) Absorption of sulphur trioxide in sulphuric
acid
5) Dilution of oleum to obtain sulphuric acid
[CONTACT PROCESS]
[CONTACT PROCESS]
 [CONTACT PROCESS]

1) Production of sulphur dioxide: Sulphur

dioxide is produced by roasting metallic
sulphides in air

OR
by burning Louisiana sulphur (99.5% pure) in
purified air.
 [CONTACT PROCESS]
2) Purification of gases: The mixture of sulphur dioxide
and air contains various impurities which must be
removed, otherwise the catalyst loses its efficiency.
3) Catalytic oxidation of sulphur dioxide: Here, the
preheated mixture of sulphur dioxide and air (oxygen) on
passing through catalyst pipes forms sulphur trioxide.

Since the reaction is highly exothermic, the catalyst is

heated only in the beginning to about 450°C. This
temperature is maintained by the heat evolved during the
reaction.
 [CONTACT PROCESS]
4) Absorption of sulphur trioxide in sulphuric acid: The
gas is cooled in a heat exchanger and is then absorbed
in absorption tower in concentrated sulphuric acid
(98%).

5) Dilution of oleum to obtain sulphuric acid: It is

diluted in dilution tank by adding calculated amount of
water to obtain sulphuric acid of the desired strength.
 [CONTACT PROCESS]
Favourable conditions for the conversion of
SO2 to SO3:
(i) Exothermic reactions are favoured at low temperature
[410-450°C]
(ii) High pressure [the pressure of 1 - 2 atmosphere is
used]
(iii) Excess of oxygen: This increases the production of
sulphur trioxide.
(iv) A suitable catalyst : Platinum is more efficient as a
catalyst than vanadium pentoxide (V205), but platinum is
more expensive and also it easily gets poisoned by
impurities like arsenic (III) oxide.
Vanadium pentoxide is used as a catalyst.
5. PROPERTIES OF SULPHURIC ACID
[Physical properties]
5. PROPERTIES OF SULPHURIC ACID
[Physical properties]
 5. PROPERTIES OF SULPHURIC ACID
[Chemical properties]
Sulphuric acid when dissolved in water form
hydronium ion and so shows acidic
properties.

It ionises in two stages and thus it is a dibasic

acid. The chemical properties of sulphuric
acid depend on whether the acid is dilute or
concentrated
 [Chemical properties]

Chemical properties of Sulphuric acid can be

discussed as follows:

A) Properties of dilute sulphuric acid

B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid

Why we need to study the properties as dilute
and concentrated acid?
 [Chemical properties]
A) Properties of dilute sulphuric acid:
(1) Dilute sulphuric acid reacts with metals, which are
above hydrogen in the activity series to form metallic
sulphate and hydrogen at ordinary temperature.

Note: Noble metals like gold and platinum do not react

with H2SO4 under any condition.
 [Chemical properties]
A) Properties of dilute sulphuric acid:
(2) It neutralises bases (oxides and hydroxides) to form
salts and water.
 [Chemical properties]
A) Properties of dilute sulphuric acid:
(3) It liberates carbon dioxide from metallic
carbonates and bicarbonates.
 [Chemical properties]
A) Properties of dilute sulphuric acid:
(4) It evolves hydrogen sulphide from metal
sulphides.
 [Chemical properties]
A) Properties of dilute sulphuric acid:
(5) It evolves sulphur dioxide from sulphites
and hydrogen sulphites (bisulphites).
 [Chemical properties]
(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:
(1) Non-volatile nature Concentrated sulphuric acid has a
high boiling point (338°C) and so, it is considered to be a
non-volatile acid.
 [Chemical properties]
(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:
(2) As an oxidising agent: The oxidising property of
concentrated sulphuric acid is due to the fact that on
thermal decomposition, it yields nascent oxygen [0].

Nascent oxygen oxidises non-metals, metals and

inorganic compounds.
 [Chemical properties]

(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:

(2) As an oxidising agent:
(a) Non-metals:
 [Chemical properties]

(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:

(2) As an oxidising agent:
(b) Metals:
 [Chemical properties]

(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:

(2) As an oxidising agent:
(c) Inorganic compounds:
 [Chemical properties]
(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:
(2) As an oxidising agent:
Note: Sulphur dioxide gas is oxidising as well as reducing
agent. It also shows temporary bleaching property due to
its reducing nature in presence of moisture.

This colourless material, if remains in air, regains its

original colour.
 [Chemical properties]
(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:
(3) As a dehydrating agent: H2SO4 has a great affinity for
water. It readily removes elements of water from other
compounds i.e., it acts as a dehydrating agent.
(a) Organic acids and organic compounds are dehydrated
by conc. H2SO4 as follows :
 [Chemical properties]
(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:
(3) As a dehydrating agent:
(b) All carbohydrates such as glucose, sugar, and
cellulose (paper, cotton, wood, etc.) react immediately to
give a black spongy mass of carbon which rises up.

Carbon obtained in this reaction is very pure and is

called sugar charcoal.
 [Chemical properties]
(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:
(3) As a dehydrating agent:
(c) Conc. sulphuric acid removes water of crystallisation
from salts. For example, blue copper (II) sulphate
CuSO4.5H2O taken in a test tube becomes white
anhydrous copper sulphate, when a few drops of conc.
sulphuric acid are added.
 [Chemical properties]
(B) Properties of concentrated sulphuric acid:
(4) Preparation of insoluble sulphates:
Sulphuric acid precipitates the insoluble
sulphates of lead, barium and calcium from
the solutions of their salts.
 6. USES OF SULPHURIC ACID
1. It is used in the preparation of:
(a) Halogens,
(b) Carbon monoxide,
(c) Carbon dioxide,
(d) Hydrogen,
(e) Sulphur dioxide.
2. Metallurgy
(i) Extraction: Its reaction with metallic compounds gives
sulphates which on electrolysis give the metal in the
pure form.
(ii) Pickling metals: Removes metallic impurities like
oxides and carbonates from the surface of metals before
galvanizing.
 6. USES OF SULPHURIC ACID

3. In lead accumulators (Storage battery): It undergoes

electrolysis in the aqueous state.
4. Oil refining: Sulphuric acid is used to remove harmful
impurities in purification of oil products, e.g., petrol,
kerosene and lubricants.
5. Industrial uses: in the manufacture of :
(i) Fertilizers like:
(a) Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4],

(b) Superphosphate of lime [Ca(H2PO4)2 + CaSO4],

 6. USES OF SULPHURIC ACID
5. Industrial uses: in the manufacture of :
(ii) Dyes, drugs:
(a) Artificial fibres : [I] Rayon, [II] Nylon. (b) Dyes, drugs
[from coal tar derivatives].
(iii) Explosives like:
(a) Trinitrotoluene [T.N.T.],
(b) Picric acid,
(c) 'Tri-nitro glycerine [C3H5O3(NO2)3].
(iv) Acids like:
(a) Nitric acid [HNO3],
(b) Hydrochloric acid [HCl],
(c) Phosphoric acid [H3PO4],
(d) Acetic acid [CH3COOH].
 6. USES OF SULPHURIC ACID
5. Industrial uses: in the manufacture of :
(v) Compounds like:
(a) Sodium sulphate [glass industry],
(b) Ferrous sulphate [ink industry].
 7. TESTS FOR SULPHURIC ACID AND SULPHATES

(1) Conc. sulphuric acid on heating with copper evolves

sulphur dioxide.

Sulphur dioxide turns acidified potassium dichromate

solution green (Reducing property of SO2).
 7. TESTS FOR SULPHURIC ACID AND SULPHATES

(2) Conc. sulphuric acid on heating with NaCl evolves

pungent fumes of HCl gas.

HCl gas gives dense white fumes of ammonium

chloride, with a glass rod dipped in ammonium hydroxide.
 7. TESTS FOR SULPHURIC ACID AND SULPHATES

(3) When barium chloride solution is added to sulphuric

acid or any soluble metal sulphate, white precipitate of
barium sulphate is formed.

The white precipitate of barium sulphate is insoluble in

any mineral acid like hydrochloric acid or nitric acid.

Note: Precipitates of both barium sulphate and barium

sulphite are white in colour but barium sulphite precipitate
dissolves in mineral acids while barium sulphate
precipitate does not
Name of Equation for catalysed
the Inputs Catalyst reaction Output
process

Haber Hydrogen + Iron

process powder 3H2 + N2 ⇄ 2NH3 Ammonia
Nitrogen Or Mo

Ostwald’s Ammonia + 4NH3 + 5O2 → 4NO +

process Air Platinum 6H2O Nitric acid

Contact Sulphur Platinum Sulphuric

process dioxide + or V2O5 2SO2 + O2 ⇄ 2SO3 acid
Oxygen