Fuming sulfuric acid: Difference between revisions

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:SO<sub>3</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> &rarr; H<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>
:SO<sub>3</sub> + H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> &rarr; H<sub>2</sub>S<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>
This reaction proceeds due to the relative instability of the three (S=O) double bonds present in sulfur trioxide, relative to the presence of two double bonds and two single bonds in the acidic forms.


Additional sulfur trioxide molecules can be added to create trisulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>O<sub>10</sub>), tetrasulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub>O<sub>13</sub>)  and so on up to very long [[sulfur trioxide polymer]]s, H(SO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>n</sub>H.
Additional sulfur trioxide molecules can be added to create trisulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>O<sub>10</sub>), tetrasulfuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub>O<sub>13</sub>)  and so on up to very long [[sulfur trioxide polymer]]s, H(SO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>n</sub>H.

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Fuming sulfuric acid, also called oleum, is produced by adding sulfur trioxide, SO3, to sulfuric acid. It mostly contains disulfuric acid (also called pyrosulfuric acid).

SO3 + H2SO4 → H2S2O7

This reaction proceeds due to the relative instability of the three (S=O) double bonds present in sulfur trioxide, relative to the presence of two double bonds and two single bonds in the acidic forms.

Additional sulfur trioxide molecules can be added to create trisulfuric acid (H2S3O10), tetrasulfuric acid (H2S4O13) and so on up to very long sulfur trioxide polymers, H(SO3)nH.