Sulfuric Acid- H 2 SO 4 Done by: Timothy Loe (20) 2A3

Introduction Sulfuric acid is the product of the U.S. chemical industry produced in largest quantity in terms of mass. About 40 million tons are produced annually. There are two major processes used in the production of H 2 SO 4, lead chamber process and contact process.

Grades Mass fraction H2SO4 Density (kg/L)Concentration (mol/L) Common name 10%1.07~1Dilute sulfuric Acid 29%- 32% Battery Acid 62%- 70% Chamber Acid 78%- 80% Tower Acid 95%- 98%1.83~18Concentrated sulfuric Acid

Lead chamber process The lead-chamber process is the older of the two processes, and its product is aqueous sulfuric acid containing 62% to 78% H 2 SO 4.

Contact process The contact process yields pure sulfuric acid. In both processes, sulfur dioxide, SO 2, is oxidized to sulfur trioxide, SO 3, and the SO 3 is dissolved in water.

Facts Pure sulfuric acid is a colorless, odorless, oily liquid. It freezes at 10.5°C. It fumes when heated, because some of the H 2 SO 4 decomposes to H 2 O and SO 3. The H 2 O is retained in the liquid, while SO 3 gas is released. Therefore, the concentration of H 2 SO 4 decreases, reaching a concentration of 98.33%. This solution boils at 338°C and is the material sold as "concentrated sulfuric acid."

Concentrated sulfuric Acid Can be used to chemically remove water from many compounds. It dehydrates sucrose (table sugar), C 12 H 22 O 11, leaving a spongy black mass of carbon and diluted sulfuric acid. It reacts similarly with skin, paper etc. When it is mixed with water, a highly exothermic reaction occurs, and the energy released can be enough to heat the mixture to boiling. Therefore, concentrated sulfuric acid must be diluted by adding the acid slowly to cold water while the mixture is stirred to dissipate the heat.

Uses Sulfuric acid is in the "wet method" for the production of phosphoric acid, used for manufacture of phosphate fertilizers as well as trisodiu phosphate for detergents. Sulfuric acid is used for a variety of other purposes in the chemical industry. For example, it is the usual acid catalyst for the conversion of cyclohexanone oxime tocaprolactam, used for making nylon.

Uses (Continued) It is also used for making hydrochloric acid from salt via the Mannheim process. For example as a catalyst for the reaction of isobutane with isobutylene to give isooctane, a compound that raises the octane rating of gasoline (petrol). Sulfuric acid is also important in the manufacture of dyestuffs solutions and is the "acid" in lead-acid (car) batteries.

Sources p/sulf&top.htmlhttp://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/sulf&to p/sulf&top.html wihttp:// wi

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