Sulfuric acid is a strong mineral acid that reacts with highly viscous Aluminium phosphate. Let us now discuss the reaction: H2SO4 + AlPO4.
Sulfuric acid, also called oil of vitriol, is a colourless,odourless mineral acid. Concentrated H2SO4 is corrosive and acts as an oxidant with strong dehydrating properties. Aluminium phosphate(AlPO4),occurs as a mineral berlinite, a highly viscous gel used in making ceramics, cosmetics, and paints.
In the following article, we will discuss the type of reaction, how to balance the reaction, the ionic form of the reaction, reaction enthalpy, and various other facts about the reaction between H2SO4 and AlPO4.
What is the product of H2SO4 and AlPO4?
Aluminium sulfate, Al2(SO4)3 and Phosphoric acid (H3PO4) are formed in reaction H2SO4 + AlPO4.
H2SO4 + AlPO4 = Al2(SO4)3 + H3PO4
What type of reaction is H2SO4 + AlPO4?
The reaction H2SO4 + AlPO4 is a double displacement reaction also known as Metathesis.
How to balance H2SO4 + AlPO4?
The reaction between H2SO4 and AlPO4 is-
H2SO4 + AlPO4 = Al2(SO4)3 + H3PO4
To balance this equation following steps are used:
- The reactants and the products are labeled by a, b, c, and d variables to represent the unknown coefficients.
- aH2SO4 + bAlPO4 = cAl2(SO4)3 + dH3PO4
- The same type of elements is rearranged together, and then the coefficients are equated.
- After rearranging by their stoichiometric proportion, we get
- Al=a=2c; P=a=d; O=4a=4b=12c=4d; H=2b=3d; S=b=3c
- Now we use the Gaussian elimination method to determine the values of the coefficients
- We get a=3 , b=2 , c=1 , d=2
- Hence the overall balanced equation is:
- 3H2SO4 + 2AlPO4 = Al2(SO4)3 + 2H3PO4
H2SO4 + AlPO4 titration
The titration of H2SO4 and AlPO4 is not possible, as H2SO4 is a strong acid whereas AlPO4 is an acidic salt. Thus the determination of any particular end point is not possible.
H2SO4 + AlPO4 net ionic equation
The net ionic equation is –
2AlPO4(s) = 2Al3+(aq)+ 2PO43-(aq)
The net equation is derived using the following steps –
- Firstly the chemical states are indicated in the equation:
- 3H2SO4(aq.) + 2AlPO4(s) = Al2(SO4)3(aq.)+ 2H3PO4(aq.)
- Then the corresponding compounds are split into their ionic forms as follows
- 6H+(aq) + 3SO42–(aq) +2AlPO4(s) = 2Al3+(aq)+ 3SO42–(aq) + 6H+(aq)+ 2PO43-(aq)
- The common ions on each sides cancels each other.
- Thus net ionic equation is:
- 2AlPO4(s) = 2Al3+(aq)+ 2PO43-(aq)
H2SO4 + AlPO4 conjugate pairs
The conjugate pairs of H2SO4 and AlPO4 are:
- The conjugate base for H2SO4 is HSO4–
- The conjugate base for H3PO4 is H2PO4–
H2SO4 and AlPO4 intermolecular forces
The intermolecular forces in H2SO4 and AlPO4 molecules are:
- Vanderwaal forces and dipole-dipole interactions are the intermolecular forces in H2SO4.
- AlPO4 is a ionic molecule and has a strong intermolecular forces of attraction i.e, dipole-dipole interaction and london forces between the aluminium cations and phosphate anions.
H2SO4 + AlPO4 reaction enthalpy
H2SO4 + AlPO4 reaction enthalpy is 200.61 KJ/mol.
| MOLECULE | ENTHALPY (KJ/MOL) |
|---|---|
| H2SO4 | -909.27 |
| AlPO4 | -1733.4 |
| Al2(SO4)3 | -3440 |
| H3PO4 | -1277 |
- The formula for enthalpy calculation is = Enthalpy of Product – Enthalpy of Reactant
- = [-1277 x 2 + 1 x (-3440)] – [2 x (-1733.4) + 3 x (-909.27)] KJ/mol
- = -5994-(-6194.61) KJ/mol
- = 200.61 KJ/mol
Is H2SO4 + AlPO4 a buffer solution?
H2SO4 + AlPO4 cannot form a buffer solution. It is because of the fact that H2SO4 is a strong acid which cannot form a buffer solution as buffer solutions contain weak acids.
Is H2SO4 + AlPO4 a complete reaction?
H2SO4 + AlPO4 is a complete reaction because at the end of the reaction Al2(SO4)3 and H3PO4 are obtained as the products.
Is H2SO4 + AlPO4 an exothermic or endothermic reaction?
H2SO4 + AlPO4 is an endothermic reaction since the reaction shows a positive enthalpy value of 200.61 KJ/mol.
Is H2SO4 + AlPO4 a redox reaction?
H2SO4 + AlPO4 is not a redox reaction, as the oxidation states of the elements remain the same even after the reaction.
Is H2SO4 + AlPO4 a precipitation reaction?
H2SO4 + AlPO4 is a precipitation reaction, because Al2(SO4)3 is obtained in the form of a white crystalline precipitate at the end of the reaction which is not soluble in H3PO4 .
Is H2SO4 + AlPO4 reversible or irreversible reaction?
H2SO4 + AlPO4 is an irreversible reaction since the products formed in the reaction does not react back and form the reactants in the reaction.
Is H2SO4 + AlPO4 displacement reaction?
H2SO4 + AlPO4 is a double displacement reaction where both Al3+ and PO43- exchanges its place with H+ and SO42- to form entirely new products.
Conclusion
Aluminium phosphate is used as a catalyst and as an ion exchanger. Sulfuric acid is used in various concentration in the manufacturing of fertilizers, pigments, dyes. The reaction between H2SO4 and AlPO4 is a metathesis reaction in which Al2(SO4)3 and H3PO4 are the products.
Hello… , I am Bhaswati Ghose. I have completed my master’s from St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi. My specialization subject was organic chemistry. I’m working as a subject matter expert in chemistry.