Question

(i) What is the purpose of the contact process?
(ii) Name the two gases that are combined during the contact process.
(iii) Name the catalyst used in the process.
(iv) Write the equation for the reaction between zinc and the final product of the contact process.

Answer 1

(i) The purpose of the contact process is to produce sulphuric acid on a large scale and at an economical rate.
(ii) In the contact process, sulphur dioxide and oxygen combine to form sulphur trioxide.
(iii) Platinum or vanadium pentaoxide is commonly used as the catalyst.
(iv) The final product of the contact process is sulphuric acid. It will react with zinc to form zinc sulphate, releasing hydrogen gas in the process. The reaction is shown below:

Zn + H₂SO₄ → ZnSO₄ + H₂