Question

(a) Name the process used for the large scale manufacture of sulphuric acid.
(b) Which property of sulphuric acid accounts for its use as a dehydrating agent?
(c) Concentrated sulphuric acid is both an oxidising agent and a non-volatile acid. Write one equation each to illustrate the properties of sulphuric acid mentioned above.

Answer 1

(a) The contact process is used for large scale manufacture of sulphuric acid.
(b) Sulphuric acid has great affinity towards water. Therefore, it is used as a dehydrating agent.
(c) Sulphuric acid as an oxidising agent:

S + 2H₂SO₄ → 2H₂O + 3SO₂

(d) Sulphuric acid as a non-volatile acid:
$\text{NaCl}+{\text{H}}_{2}S{O}_4\stackrel{{\text{<200}}^{0}C}{\to }{\text{NaHSO}}_4+\text{HCl}$