Question

Give balanced chemical equation for the action of Sulphuric acid on each of the following:
(a) Potassium hydrogen carbonate.
(b) Sulphur

Answer 1

Part 1: Reaction of Potassium hydrogen carbonate with Sulphuric acid:-

1. When Potassium hydrogen carbonate reacts with Sulphuric acid with a temperature less than $200°\mathrm{C}$ gives Potassium sulphate, Carbon dioxide and water as its product.
2. Balanced chemical equation- $\underset{(\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{hydrogen}\mathrm{carbonate})}{2{\mathrm{KHCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{acid})}{\hspace{0.17em}{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\stackrel{<200°\mathrm{C}}{\to }\underset{(\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{sulphate})}{{\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide})}{2{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\uparrow \right)\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$

Part 2: Reaction of Sulphur with Sulphuric acid:-

1. When Sulphur reacts with Sulphuric acid it gives Sulphur dioxide, and water as its product.
2. Balanced chemical equation- $\underset{\left(\mathrm{Sulphur}\right)}{\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{acid})}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{(\mathrm{Sulphur}\mathrm{dioxide})}{3{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$

Final answer:-

(i) Potassium hydrogen carbonate reacts with Sulphuric acid with a temperature less than $200°\mathrm{C}$ gives Potassium sulphate, Carbon dioxide and water as its product-

$\underset{(\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{hydrogen}\mathrm{carbonate})}{2{\mathrm{KHCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{acid})}{\hspace{0.17em}{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\stackrel{<200°\mathrm{C}}{\to }\underset{(\mathrm{Potassium}\mathrm{sulphate})}{{\mathrm{K}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide})}{2{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\uparrow \right)\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$

(ii) Sulphur reacts with Sulphuric acid it gives Sulphur dioxide, and water as its product-

$\underset{\left(\mathrm{Sulphur}\right)}{\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{(\mathrm{Sulphuric}\mathrm{acid})}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to \underset{(\mathrm{Sulphur}\mathrm{dioxide})}{3{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$