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Acids and Alkalis

Manufacture of Sulfuric Acid  -  The Contact Process.

Sulfur trioxide will dissolve in water to make sulfuric acid.

sulfur trioxide  +   water         sulfuric acid
SO_3(g)       +          H₂O_(l)          H₂SO_4(aq)

The reaction is highly exothermic and produces an acid mist
which is difficult to condense.

In practice it is easier to dissolve sulfur trioxide
in concentrated (98%) sulfuric acid to form oleum.

sulfur trioxide  +   sulfuric acid         oleum
SO_3(g)           +            H₂SO_4(aq)             H₂S₂O_7(l)

Oleum is sometimes called fuming sulfuric acid.
Water is then carefully added to oleum
to remake concentrated (98%) sulfuric acid.

oleum     +      water         sulfuric acid
H₂S₂O_7(l)     +     H₂O_(l)             2H₂SO_4(aq)

Sulfuric acid has many uses in industry.

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