Write the equation representing the ionization of sulfuric acid.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Write the equation representing the ionization of sulfuric acid.

Sulfuric acid or $\displaystyle{H}_{{2}}{S}{O}_{{4}}$ is a strong acid and ionizes in two steps. In the first step, one proton is donated and the chemical equation for this step can be written as:

$\displaystyle{H}_{{2}}{S}{O}_{{4}}\to{{H}}^{+}+{H}{S}{{O}_{{4}}^{{-{}}}}$

In the second step, another proton is lost and we obtain the sulfate ion. The chemical equation for this step is given as:

$\displaystyle{H}{S}{{O}_{{4}}^{{-}}}\to{{H}}^{+}+{S}{{O}_{{4}}^{{{2}-}}}$

The overall ionization reaction is the sum of these two steps...

Sulfuric acid or $\displaystyle{H}_{{2}}{S}{O}_{{4}}$ is a strong acid and ionizes in two steps. In the first step, one proton is donated and the chemical equation for this step can be written as:

$\displaystyle{H}_{{2}}{S}{O}_{{4}}\to{{H}}^{+}+{H}{S}{{O}_{{4}}^{{-{}}}}$

In the second step, another proton is lost and we obtain the sulfate ion. The chemical equation for this step is given as:

$\displaystyle{H}{S}{{O}_{{4}}^{{-}}}\to{{H}}^{+}+{S}{{O}_{{4}}^{{{2}-}}}$

The overall ionization reaction is the sum of these two steps and can be written as:

$\displaystyle{H}_{{2}}{S}{O}_{{4}}\to{2}{{H}}^{+}+{S}{{O}_{{4}}^{{{2}-}}}$

Thus, when sulfuric acid ionizes, it releases two protons and one sulfate ion, as per the above written equation.

The two step process is necessary because of two protons. In comparison, a strong acid like hydrochloric acid ionizes in a single step to release a proton and a chloride ion.

Hope this helps.

Notes

Sunday, March 16, 2014