Question

The catalyst used in the industrial preparation of sulphuric acid is

• A. Manganese dioxide
• B. Vanadium pentoxide
• C. Phosphoric acid
• D. Iron

Answer 1

The correct option is B Vanadium pentoxide

A catalyst is a substance which alters the rate of the chemical reaction without itself undergoing any chemical change. There are two types of catalysts:

(a) Positive catalyst: Catalyst which increases the rate of the reaction.

(b) Negative catalyst: Catalyst which decreases the rate of the reaction.

Vanadium pentoxide is a positive catalyst used in the industrial preparation of sulphuric acid. The reaction for the industrial preparation of sulphuric acid is:

$2S{O}_2\left(g\right)+O_2\left(g\right)\stackrel{V_2{O}_5}{\to }2S{O}_3\left(g\right)+Heat$