Question

Some bacteria obtain their energy by oxidizing sulfur, producing sulfuric acid as a by product, In the laboratory, or industrially, the first step in the conversion of sulfur to sulfuric acid is to produce sulfur dioxide. Then, sulfur dioxide is converted to sulfur trioxide which reacts with producing sulfuric acid.

Name one catalyst used industrially which speeds up the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur tri-oxide.

Write the equation for the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide. Why does this reaction supply energy?

What is the name of the compound formed between sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid?

Answer 1

1. Catalyst to convert sulfuric dioxide to sulfuric trioxide is Vanadium pentoxide(${\mathrm{V}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_5$) and Platinum.

2. The chemical equation can be written as :

$$\begin{gathered} 2{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\stackrel{{\mathrm{V}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_5}{\to }2{\mathrm{SO}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+198\mathrm{J}(\mathrm{Energy}\mathrm{released}) \\ (\mathrm{Sulfuric}(\mathrm{oxygen})(\mathrm{Sulfuric} \\ \mathrm{dioxide})\mathrm{tri}-\mathrm{oxide}) \end{gathered}$$

3. Two compound are formed between sulfur di-oxide and sulfur tri-oxide is Oleum(${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{S}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7$) and Pyrosulfuric acid