Answer 3.1

Chemical Equilibria|Le Chatelier's Principle|Factors Affecting Chemical equilibria| The Haber Process|The Contact Process|Equilibrium Constants

Explain the conditions used in the Contact process.

Answer:


 * Temperature

A temperature of 450 oC is used in this reaction. This is because the reaction is exothermic such that a low temperature would favour the forward reaction and produce more sulphur trioxide. However, a low temperature slows down the rate of the reaction. Thus a compromise temperature of 450 oC is used.


 * Pressure

A pressure of only 1 atm is used. According to LCP, an increase in pressure would increase the yield of the reaction because there are fewer number of moles of gas on the right hand side. However, a pressure of 1 atm is enough to obtain a very good yield. Thus it would be a waste of money and resources to increase the pressure.


 * Catalyst

Vanadium (V) Oxide, V2O5 is used as catalyst in this reaction. It increases the rate of the reaction, thus reducing the need for a high temperature.