Understand the manufacture of sulphuric acid.

Synthesise the manufacture of ammonia and its salts.

Understand alloys.
Evaluate the uses of synthetic polymer.
Apply the uses of glass and ceramics.
Evaluate the uses of composite materials.
Appreciate various synthetic industrial materiala.
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 S
O
4

(H
4

)
USES OF SULPHURIC ACID
1. Sulphuric acid is used to produce chemical fertilizer such as ammonium sulphate and
potassium sulphate, which are highly soluble in water and can be easily obsorbed by
plant.
2. Car batteries contain sulphuric acid which is used as the electrolyte.
3. Sulphuric acid also used in the making of artificial silk-like fibres and rayon.
4. Chemical like paints, dyes and drug use sulphuric acid as one of
their component materials.
MANUFACTURE OF SULPHURIC ACID
1. Sulphuric acid is manufactured in industry though contact process
2. The process contain three stage
STAGE1: Production Of Sulphur Dioxide From Sulphur
i. Combustion of sulphur or sulphide ores in the air produce sulphur dioxide SO2.
S(s)+O2(g) SO2(g)
sulphur
ii. sulphur dioxide is dried and purified.
STAGE2: Production Of Sulphur Trioxide From Sulphur Dioxide
i. The purified sulphur dioxide SO2 and excess air are passed over vanadium(V)
oxide V2O5 at controlled optimum condition optimum condition to produce sulphur
trioxide SO3.
2SO2(g)+O2(g) 2SO3(g)
ii. The optimum used are
a) Temperature:450-500°C
b) Pressure: 2-3 atmospheres
c) Catalyst: Vanadium(V) oxide
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iii. Under controlled optimum conditions, 98% conversion is possible. Sulphur dioxide and oxygen that have not
reacted are allowed to flow back again over the catalyst in the converter.
STAGE3: Conversion of trioxide to sulphuric acid
i. Sulphur trioxide SO2 is dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid H2SO4 to form oleum
H2S2O7 which is then diluted with water to form sulphuric acid H2SO4.
SO3(g)+H2SO4(l) H2S2O7(l)
Oleum
H2S2O7(l)+ H2O(l) 2H2SO4(aq)
ii. The two reactions in stage3 are equivalent to adding sulphur trioxide directly into water.
SO3(g)+H2O(l) H2SO4(aq)
iii. The addition of sulphur trioxide directly into is not carried out because the reaction is vary vigorous; a lot of
heat is given off. As a result, alarge cloud of sulphuric acid fumes is produced, which is corrosive and
causes severe air pollution.
In the converter
4
Sulphu
r

Oxyge
n

S(s) + O2(g)
S O 2 ( g )
2SO(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g)
Temperature: 450-500°C
Pressure: 2-3 atmospheres
Catalyst: Vanadium(V) oxide
Oxyge
Unreacted
2%so2 is
flowed back
to converter
together with
o x y g e n

The Contact Process