reversible reactions and equilibrium
what is a reversible reaction
you can change the direction of the reaction by changing reaction conditions
when is a reverse reaction at equilibrium
-forward and reverse reactions take place at the same time -the concentration of reactants and products is no longer changing
why are reverse reactions a challenge to industries
they are never fully complete
how can you increase yield of a reverse reaction
when a reaction is in equillibrium and uou make a change the system acrs to oppose the change and restore equilibrium so a new equillibrium forms
what can be done to change equilibriums
changing the temperature -pressure -concentration -using a catalyst
raw materials needed to produce sulfuric acid
sulfur/ sulfur dioxide -air -water
proccess of making sulfuric acid
-burn sulfur in air -mix sulfur dioxide with more air -pass over four beds of catalyst at 450 -dissolve sulfur trioxide gas in sulfuric acid -mix solution in water
key points about creating sulfuric acid
exothermic reaction -pipes of cold water are coiled around catalst bed -unreacted sulfur dioxide is reused in step 3 -sulfur trioxide reacts with water to form sulfuric acid but is violent so it happens in two steps
how to increase yield of sulfuric acid
-low temperature ad forward reaction is exothermic -high pressure as there are fewer molecules are on the right -remove products to lower concentration
chosen conditions for sulfuric acid
450 degrees as catalyst does not work below 400 degrees -200 atmospheres of pressure -removal of sulfur dioxide -catalyst of vanadium oxide