Friday, December 15, 2017

safety - How does sulfuric acid react to heating?


How would HX2SOX4 react to heat ? I assume that it would form toxic sulfur (di/tri)oxide, but I can't find any information on this.


I'm concerned about fire hazards specifically, so assume very intense heating and very low concentration.



Answer



Sulfuric acid, HX2SOX4, having an enthalpy of formation of 814 kJ/mol, is quite stable and won't decompose easily.


According to A Kinetic Study of the Decomposition of Spent Sulfuric Acids at High Temperature, Dominique Schwartz, Roger Gadiou, Jean-François Brilhac, Gilles Prado, and Ginès Martinez:



The decomposition of HX2SOX4 to HX2O and SOX3 is predominant between 400 and 700 K. The formation of a small amount of gaseous sulfuric acid can be observed. Above 673 K, the equilibrium constant of the reaction R1 becomes higher than 1 and increases rapidly.


HX2SOX4HX2O+SOX3


The second process is the reduction of sulfur trioxide to SOX2. This endothermic reaction needs a high temperature to take place, the equilibrium constant of the reaction R2 being higher that 1 above 1050 K.



SOX3SOX2+12OX2



So, you only have to worry when the temperature reaches 400 K, or 127C (false precision).


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