Question

Give reason:

High pressure is favourable for the preparation of sulphuric acid in contact process.

Answer 1

In the Contact Process,

\[\ce{2SO2 + O2 ⇌ 2SO3}\]

Since 3 volumes of gaseous reactants produce 2 volumes of gaseous product, an increase in pressure shifts the equilibrium towards the right side, according to Le Chatelier’s principle.

Therefore, high pressure favours the formation of SO₃ and hence increases the yield of sulphuric acid.