C6.1.4 Contact Process

Question 1

What happens in contact process

Answer 1

3 raw materials are needed for making sulfuric acid:
Sulfur
Air (source of O2)
Water

Question 2

There are __ stages in contact process

Answer 2

3

Question 3

Stage 1

Answer 3

Sulfur burns in air to produce sulfur dioxide

S (s) + O2 (g) —> SO2 (g)

Question 4

Stage 2

Answer 4

Sulfur dioxide + oxygen react = sulfur trioxide:
2SO (g) + O2 (g) —> 2SO3 (g) (reversible reaction)
Conditions:
- pressure 2 atmospheres
- temperature of 450
- vanadium oxide catalyst V2O5
Under these conditions equal yield of Sulfur trioxide is 96%

Question 5

Stage 3

Answer 5

Sulfur trioxide is converted to sulphuric acid

H2O (l) + SO3 (g) —> H2SO4 (aq)