Revision Notes

Contact Process

The contact process is the name given to the process by which sulphuric acid is produced. Sulphuric acid has many uses such as the manufacturing of:

  • Paints / Pigments
  • Soaps / Detergents
  • Fibres
  • Plastics
  • Fertilisers

The following reactions are involved:

  • S (s)   +   O2 (g)   —->   SO2 (g)   (sulphur dioxide)
  • 2SO2 (g)   +   O2 (g)   —->   2SO3 (g)   (sulphur trioxide)
The contact process is the name given to the process by which sulphuric acid is produced. Air and sulpher dioxide lead to sulphuric acid.
The Contact Process