Sulphur
Sulphur is a non metal element in group 6 of the periodic table. Sulphur has many useful properties which make it widely used in the industry.
Name some sources of Sulphur
Can be found in elemental form in underground sulphur beds in USA, Texas, Poland, Mexico, Japan, Ethiopia, Australia, Sicily
Methods/Sources:
Sulphur Dioxide is manufactured via the heating of sulphur in air It is used as bleach in wood pulp manufacture
It is used as food preservative (as it kills germs)
Contact Process (Manufacturing of Sulphuric Acid):
Sulphuric acid is one of the most important chemicals in the industry since it has a role in the manufacturing of almost every product. Sulphuric acid is manufactured by a process called Contact Process and it involves several steps:
1. Making the sulphur dioxide
Sulphur is first burned in air producing sulphur dioxide:
S(s)+ O2(g)→ SO2(g)
Name some sources of Sulphur
Can be found in elemental form in underground sulphur beds in USA, Texas, Poland, Mexico, Japan, Ethiopia, Australia, Sicily
Methods/Sources:
- Sulphur is found in crude oil/natural gas
- Byproduct of extraction from metal ores (e.g. Zinc Blende, ZnS)
- It’s also released by volcanoes
Uses of Sulphur
- Sulphur is used in the manufacture of sulphur dioxide and sulphuric acid in the contact process.
- Vulcanising Rubber
- Disinfectant
- Used to make matches & explosives
Uses of Sulphur Dioxide:
Sulphur Dioxide is manufactured via the heating of sulphur in air It is used as bleach in wood pulp manufacture
It is used as food preservative (as it kills germs)
Contact Process (Manufacturing of Sulphuric Acid):
Sulphuric acid is one of the most important chemicals in the industry since it has a role in the manufacturing of almost every product. Sulphuric acid is manufactured by a process called Contact Process and it involves several steps:
- Making the sulphur dioxide
- Converting the sulphur dioxide into sulphur trioxide
- Converting the sulphur trioxide into sulphuric acid
1. Making the sulphur dioxide
Sulphur is first burned in air producing sulphur dioxide:
S(s)+ O2(g)→ SO2(g)
3. Converting the sulphur trioxide into sulphuric acid
This can't be done by simply adding water to the sulphur trioxide - the reaction is so uncontrollable that it creates a fog of sulphuric acid. Instead, the sulphur trioxide is first dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid:
H2SO4(l) + SO3(g) → H2S2O7(l)
The product is known as fuming sulphuric acid or oleum.
This can then be reacted safely with water to produce concentrated sulphuric acid - twice as much as you originally
used to make the fuming sulphuric acid.
H2S2O7(l) + H2O(l) → 2 H2SO4(l) The average percentage yield of this reaction is around 30%.
Properties of Sulphuric Acid
Dilute sulphuric acid is a typical dibasic acid in respect to metal, carbonate and base reactions. Concentrated sulphuric acid is often used as a drying agent.
This can't be done by simply adding water to the sulphur trioxide - the reaction is so uncontrollable that it creates a fog of sulphuric acid. Instead, the sulphur trioxide is first dissolved in concentrated sulphuric acid:
H2SO4(l) + SO3(g) → H2S2O7(l)
The product is known as fuming sulphuric acid or oleum.
This can then be reacted safely with water to produce concentrated sulphuric acid - twice as much as you originally
used to make the fuming sulphuric acid.
H2S2O7(l) + H2O(l) → 2 H2SO4(l) The average percentage yield of this reaction is around 30%.
Properties of Sulphuric Acid
Dilute sulphuric acid is a typical dibasic acid in respect to metal, carbonate and base reactions. Concentrated sulphuric acid is often used as a drying agent.