Question

Describe the contact process for the manufacture of sulphuric acid with special reference to the reaction conditions, catalysts used and the yield in the process.

Answer 1

It is manufactured by contact process which involves following steps;

(a) Burning of sulphur or sulphide ores in air to genetate SO₂.

(b) conversion of SO₂ to SO₃ by the reaction with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst (V₂O₅)

(c) Absorption of SO₃ in H₂SO₄ to give oleum (H₂S₂O₇). The oleum obtained is diluted to give sulphuric acid.