The reaction of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) with water and alcoholic compounds produces heat. It is made out of sulphur, oxygen and hydrogen. Many industries use the chemical compound for treatment of ores, in manufacturing fertilisers etc. The odourless and colourless liquid reacts with water, sugar, metals like zinc and delivers different formations. Following its vast industrial applications the chemical compound benefits the users in treating offensive odours from wastewater. Also, it helps eliminate solid particles such as polymers with chemicals. As the chemical is advantageous in several ways, it undergoes certain reactive compounds for application purposes. The reactions and experiments are often hazardous and lead to an explosion; laboratories sometimes carry them under professional vision. Now let’s discuss the concept in brief and learn its reactions simultaneously.
What is sulphuric acid?
Sulphuric acid is a widely used chemical compound used for commercial purposes. It is a colourless, odourless liquid that forms in reaction with water and sulphur trioxide. Furthermore, the chemical is then occupied by various industries such as petrol refining and metallurgical. Often it acts as an electrolyte in acid storage batteries in an application process.
How to prepare sulphuric acid?
One can prepare sulphuric acid by following these simple steps-
What are the reactions of sulphuric acid?
The reaction of sulphuric acid with compounds are highly exothermic. Read the four significant reactions of sulphuric acid below-
- The Reaction of sulphuric acid with water
- Sulphuric acid reaction with sugar
- The Reaction of sulphuric acid with zinc
- Sulphuric acid reaction with barium
The reaction of Sulphuric acid and water (H₂O)
The reaction of sulphuric acid with water leads to an exothermic process. As the chemical compound, i.e., sulphuric trioxide forms a reaction with water (H2O), a substantial amount of heat is released from its exposure and thus even boils at times. While you take the chemical experiment, the only way to ensure a safe process is to add sulphuric acid in the water instead of any other method or technique.
The dehydrating sulphuric substance pushes water from several compounds in the reaction and then uses the solution as a drying agent. Although, the boiling point of this chemical reaction relies on concentration level, which even extends to 98% at large.
Sometimes, the boiling drops due to the higher sulphur trioxide concentration in oleum (an SO3 solution).
The reaction of sulphuric acid with sugar
Reaction of Sulphuric acid and sugar chemical relationship of sulphuric and water demonstrates by adding sugar compounds, i.e., carbohydrate, in the classic experiment. The reaction of sulphuric acids tends to detach water from substance and thus avails to destroy the molecules in the process. Although, follow these steps carefully-
Step 1: Take sugar in a bowl, add water drops, and mix it.
Step2: Add sulphuric acid to the mixture.
After a couple of minutes, you will see a strong reaction resulting in the formation of carbon release of gases, carbon dioxide, and sulphur dioxide simultaneously. Now, the chemical reaction of sulphuric acid with sugar is flourishing, and you can note down this experiment for the future.
Reaction of sulphuric acid with zinc
The chemical reaction of sulphuric acid and zinc is prevalent among all other experiments. Often, the reaction is widely customised in laboratories to attain hydrogen gas in a process. Adding to that, when zinc granules add in diluted sulphuric acid, it completely dissolves the metallic substance with a release of hydrogen gas at the procedure. The formula that obtains from the reaction is
Zn + H₂SO4 → ZnSO4 + H₂
After that, the Diluted sulfuric acid forms a reaction with metal that reacts in the activity of hydrogen gases. The formula then is –
М + H₂SO4(diluted) → salt + H₂↑
Reaction of sulphuric acid with barium chloride
Barium is a salt made out of chloride anion and barium cation. Hence, the reaction between sulphuric acid and salt forms barium ions. During the reaction, an anion displays in the process, which leads to the formation of the new compound. The sulphuric acid acts as a Lewis acid, which forms a white colour in the experiment. Below is the formula obtained after completing the experiment, often used in gravimetry.
H₂SO4 + BaCl₂ → BaSO4 + 2HCl
ZnSO4 + BaCl₂ → BaSO4 + ZnCl₂
In the experiment, sulphuric acid is the most robust chemical capable of displacing metals from various compounds and salts.
Conclusion
Sulphuric acid is an essential commodity functional for industrial purposes. Since it helps remove pathogens’, offensive odours, many industries use the chemical compound at large. Laboratories prepare the sulphuric acid with a mixture of sulphur trioxide and oleum to supply for broad applications. Although, certain compounds perform reactions with sulphuric acid to form valuable compounds. The sulphuric acid acts as a cleaning agent after the production process. Following its many applications, the chemical compound is known as the ‘’King of chemicals’’.