Industrial Processes
Year 11 (IGCSE) 🌿 Materials & Environment Describe the Contact Process (H₂SO₄); compare Haber and Contact conditions.
🏭 The Contact Process (H₂SO₄)
- S + O₂ → SO₂ — sulfur burned in air.
- 2SO₂ + O₂ ⇌ 2SO₃ — V₂O₅ catalyst, ~450°C, 1–2 atm. ~98% conversion.
- SO₃ absorbed in H₂SO₄ → oleum → diluted → H₂SO₄
SO₃ is not dissolved directly in water — it forms a dangerous acid mist. Absorbed into H₂SO₄ first (forming oleum) then diluted safely.
⚖️ Haber vs Contact
| Haber (NH₃) | Contact (H₂SO₄) | |
|---|---|---|
| Catalyst | Iron | V₂O₅ |
| Temperature | ~450°C | ~450°C |
| Pressure | ~200 atm | ~1–2 atm |
🌍 Green Chemistry
Industrial compromise: maximise rate AND yield AND minimise energy use, cost and environmental impact. No single condition satisfies all — conditions are always a compromise.
Green chemistry: high atom economy, renewable feedstocks, minimal waste, use of catalysts, prevent pollution.
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Interactive Demonstration — Industrial Processes
Explore key industrial chemical processes and their conditions.
🏭 Haber Process
N₂ + H₂ → NH₃
⚗️ Contact Process
SO₂ → SO₃ → H₂SO₄
🔥 Blast Furnace
Fe₂O₃ → Fe
⚡ Chlor-alkali
NaCl → Cl₂ + NaOH + H₂
🛢️ Cracking
Long alkanes → shorter alkenes
🔋 Electrolysis of Al₂O₃
Al₂O₃ → Al
Click a process to see details.
🏭 Industrial Process Calculator
Calculate theoretical and actual yield for industrial reactions.