Question

Give balanced equations of reactions between Sulphuric acid and the following:

(a) Carbon

(b) Zinc sulphide

(c) Copper oxide

(d) Sodium bicarbonate

(e) Calcium bisulphite

(f) Sodium sulphite.

Answer 1

(a)

1. The balanced equation for the reaction between Sulphuric acid and carbon is given below:
   $\mathrm{C}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to 2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+2{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
2. Carbon $\left(\mathrm{C}\right)$ reacts with hot concentrated Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ to produce water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$, Sulphur dioxide $\left({\mathrm{SO}}_2\right)$ gas and carbon dioxide $\left({\mathrm{CO}}_2\right)$ gas.

(b)

1. The balanced equation for the reaction between Sulphuric acid and Zinc sulphide is given below:
   $\mathrm{ZnS}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\mathrm{dil}. {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
2. Zinc sulphide $\left(\mathrm{ZnS}\right)$ reacts with dilute Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ to give Zinc sulphate $\left({\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\right)$ and Hydrogen sulphide $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}\right)$ gas.

(c)

1. The balanced equation for the reaction between Sulphuric acid and Copper oxide is given below:
   $\mathrm{CuO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\mathrm{dil}. {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$
2. Copper oxide $\left(\mathrm{CuO}\right)$ is neutralised by using dilute Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ to produce Copper sulphate $\left({\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\right)$ and water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$.

(d)

1. The balanced equation for the reaction between Sulphuric acid and Sodium bicarbonate is given below:
   $2{\mathrm{NaHCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\mathrm{dil}. {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+2{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
2. Sodium bicarbonate $\left({\mathrm{NaHCO}}_3\right)$ treats with dilute Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ to give Sodium sulphate $\left({\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$, water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ and carbon dioxide $\left({\mathrm{CO}}_2\right)$ gas.

(e)

1. The balanced equation for the reaction between Sulphuric acid and Calcium bisulphite is given below:
   $\mathrm{Ca}{\left({\mathrm{HSO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\mathrm{dil}. {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{CaSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+2{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
2. Calcium bisulphite $\left(\mathrm{Ca}{\left({\mathrm{HSO}}_3\right)}_2\right)$ reacts with dilute Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ to give Calcium sulphate $\left({\mathrm{CaSO}}_4\right)$ salt, water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ and Sulphur dioxide $\left({\mathrm{SO}}_2\right)$ gas.

(f)

1. The balanced equation for the reaction between Sulphuric acid and Sodium sulphite is given below:
   ${\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+\mathrm{dil}. {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
2. Sodium sulphite $\left({\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_3\right)$ reacts with dilute Sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ to give Sodium sulphate $\left({\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$salt, water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ and Sulphur dioxide $\left({\mathrm{SO}}_2\right)$ gas.