| What are the Stages of the Contact Process? Give the Equations for each one of them. | -First Stage is simply making Sulphur Dioxide, by Burning Sulphur in the Air
[Sulphur + Oxygen --> Sulphur Dioxide] [S + O₂ --> SO₂
-Second Stage has the Sulphur Dioxide being Oxidised to make Sulphur Trioxide
[Sulphur Dioxide + Oxygen ⇌ Sulphur Trioxide] [SO₂ + O₂ ⇌2SO₃]
-Final Stage has the Sulphur Trioxide being Dissolved in Water to make Sulphuric Acid
[Sulphuric Trioxide + Water --> Sulphuric Acid] [SO₃ + H₂O --> H₂SO₄] |
| What is the Problem with the Final Stage? What can be done to make it Safer? | -Lots of Heat is being Generated so to get around it, Sulphur Trioxide is Dissolved in Sulphuric Acid first, then Water |
| In Stage 2, why does there have to be Reaction Conditions? | -This is because the Reaction is Reversible, so therefore it wouldn't help if the Sulphur Trioxide broken down into Oxygen and Sulphur Dioxide
-Making the Conditions favour the Equilibrium and Rate of Reaction favour the Sulphur Trioxide |
| In Stage 2, why is the Temperature as it is? | -To make the Equilibrium Position favour the Products, it needs to be Lower as its an Exothermic Forward Reaction
-However, Reducing the Temperature means the Rate of Reaction is much more Slower, therefore taking Longer to get a Quantity needed
-So 450 Degrees acts like a Compromise to balance Both Sides |
| In Stage 2, why is the Pressure as it is? | -In the Equation for Stage 2, SO₂ + O₂ ⇌2SO₃, you can Clearly see that the Products has the Least Amount of Moles, so Increasing the Pressure would Shift the Equilibrium Position towards the Products side
-However, this is Expensive, and the Equilibrium Position is already on the Right so it isn't Really Needed
-So this Process simply is Carried out at Atmospheric Pressure |
| Why is there a Catalyst used in the Contact Process? What even is it? | -This is to only Increase the Rate of Reaction of SO₂ + O₂ ⇌2SO₃
-It is Vanadium Pentoxide, V₂O₅
-Without it, it would make the Costs for Temperature [Has to be Higher to make the Rate Faster] and Pressure [In case the Temperature gets too High for the Position |
