In the Contact Process for manufacturing sulphuric acid, Sulphur trioxide (SO3) is not absorbed in water because:
Correct answer: B. The reaction is highly exothermic
- A. The reaction does not go to completion
- B. The reaction is highly exothermic
- C. The reaction is quite slow
- D. SO3 is insoluble in water
Explanation
In the Contact Process, sulphur trioxide (SO3) is produced by the oxidation of sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the presence of a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst. The reaction is highly exothermic and produces a lot of heat. This means that if SO3 were to come into contact with water, it would react vigorously with it, releasing a large amount of heat and forming sulphuric acid (H2SO4) through the following reaction:SO3(g) + H2O(l) → H2SO4(l) (exothermic)This reaction is highly exothermic and can cause the mixture to boil and even explode due to the sudden release ofheat. Therefore, in the Contact Process, SO3 is not allowed to come into contact with water and is instead absorbed in concentrated sulphuric acid to form oleum, which can be further diluted with water to produce sulphuric acid.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Chemical Equilibrium
Reversible reactions reach dynamic equilibrium when forward and reverse rates become equal, and Le Chatelier's principle predicts the effect of changing concentration, pressure or temperature. The chapter also covers solubility product, the common ion effect, buffer action and the conditions used in Haber's process, with equilibrium shifts distinguished from changes in the equilibrium constant.
Practise Chemical Equilibrium
625 free Chemical Equilibrium MCQs from Chemistry, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Chemistry questions like this
Chemistry is on 14 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Chemical Equilibrium questions
The formation of NH3 is a reversible and exothermic process, what will happen on cooling?
As the reaction proceeds, the concentration of reactants _.
Heat of solution for NaCl is ?
In modern Haber Process Plants, the temperature maintained during the process is:
In the Haber process for manufacturing of ammonia, Nitrogen is taken from:
In 'AgCl' solution, some salt of NaCl is added, 'AgCl' will be precipitated due to: