Detailed Summary of Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)
Manufacture – Contact Process: Sulfuric acid is manufactured through the Contact Process, which consists of several key steps: burning sulfur or sulfide ores to produce sulfur dioxide (SO₂), oxidizing SO₂ to sulfur trioxide (SO₃) using vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) as a catalyst, absorbing SO₃ in concentrated sulfuric acid to form oleum, and finally diluting oleum with water to obtain sulfuric acid.
Properties: Sulfuric acid is a colorless, oily liquid that is highly dense and corrosive. It acts as a strong acid, a dehydrating agent that removes water, and is also an oxidizing agent.
Precautions: It is critical to always add acid to water and never the reverse to ensure safety during handling.