What is the role of Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) in the contact process?
Vanadium pentoxide is the catalyst used in the converter stage of the contact process. Vanadium Pentoxide acts like a catalyst to speed up the conversion of SO2 to SO3 as it is a very slow process. The equation of the reaction is given below.
2SO2(g)+O2(g)V2O5−−−→450oC2SO3(g)
Note: Vanadium pentoxide is not reacting in this reaction but is acting as a platform for the reaction to occur at a rapid pace.