15 Facts on H2SO4 + P4O10: What, How To Balance & FAQs

P₄O₁₀ is a strong desiccating or dehydrating agent even stronger than H₂SO₄. Let us see how it reacts with H₂SO₄ through this article.

Sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) and tetraphosphorus decaoxide react to form acid and release gas. Tetraphosphorus decaoxide (P₄O₁₀) shows similar chemical properties like P₂O₅. Both are strong dehydrating agents of organic chemistry. But only P₄O₁₀ is strong enough to dehydrate H₂SO₄.

We will learn some useful facts about the H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction, like type of reaction, products formed, balanced chemical equation and reaction enthalpy in this article.

What is the product of H₂SO₄ and P­₄O₁₀

Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) and sulphur trioxide (SO₃) are the products of the H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction. The chemical equation for the reaction is,

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ = H₃PO₄ + SO₃

What type of reaction is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is a double displacement reaction.

How to balance H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀

The balanced chemical equation for the H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is,

6H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ = 4H₃PO₄ + 6SO₃

The following steps are used in derivation of the balanced chemical equation:

• The unbalanced equation for H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is,

• H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ = H₃PO₄ + SO₃

• To check if the moles of atoms present on the product side are equal to the reactant side or not. Here the number of H, P, O and S atoms are not equal.

• Therefore, we multiply H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄ and SO₃ with a coefficient of 6, 4 and 6 respectively.

• Thus, the balanced chemical equation obtained is,

• 6H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ = 4H₃PO₄ + 6SO₃

H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ titration

Titration of H₂SO₄ and P₄O₁₀ is not possible as sulphuric acid is a strong acid and tetraphosphorus decaoxide is an acidic oxide that cannot be categorised in any titration procedure.

H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ net ionic equation

The net ionic equation for H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is,

2H⁺ (aq.) + SO₄^2- (aq.) + P₄O₁₀ (aq.) = 2H⁺ (aq.) + PO₃^2- (aq.) + SO₃ (g)

The steps mentioned below are used in the derivation of the net ionic equation:

• Note the general balanced chemical equation for H₂SO₄ and P₄O₁₀ reaction.

• 6H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ = 4H₃PO₄ + 6SO₃

• Specify each molecule with its chemical state (s, l, g or aq).

• 6H₂SO₄ (aq.) + P₄O₁₀ (aq.) = 4H₃PO₄ (aq.) + 6SO₃ (g)

• Split the compounds which are strong enough to produce corresponding ions in their aqueous form to obtain the complete ionic equation.

• 2H⁺ (aq.) + SO₄^2- (aq.) + P₄O₁₀ (aq.) = 2H⁺ (aq.) + PO₃^2- (aq.) + SO₃ (g)

• Eliminate the ions that are available on both sides.

• SO₄^2- (aq.) + P₄O₁₀ (aq.) = PO₃^2- (aq.) + SO₃ (g)

H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ conjugate pairs

H₂SO₄ and P₄O₁₀ do not have any conjugate pairs.

• The conjugate pair of H₂SO₄ is its conjugate base HSO₄^2-.

H₂SO₄ and P­₄O₁₀ intermolecular forces

• The intermolecular force in H₂SO₄ molecules is hydrogen bonding.

• Strong van der Waals forces are present in P₄O₁₀ molecules.

• H₃PO₄ also contains hydrogen bonding between their molecules.

• SO₃ is a gaseous molecule and has London dispersion forces in-between molecules.

H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ reaction enthalpy

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction enthalpy is 4955.7 kJ/mol. The  estimate values of standard enthalpy of formation for molecules in the reaction is,

Molecules	Reaction enthalpy (in KJ/mol)
H2SO4	-909.27
P4O10	-2984
H3PO4	-277.4
SO3	-395.72

Reaction enthalpy (ΔH_f) = Standard enthalpy of formation (product – reactant)

Thus, ΔH_f = [6*(-395.72) + 4*(-277.4)] – [-2948 + 6*(-909.27)

ΔH_f = 4955.7 kJ/mol.

Is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ a buffer solution

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ is not a buffer solution because a weak acid is necessary for forming a buffer solution but H₂SO₄ is a strong acid.

Is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ a complete reaction

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ is a complete reaction and cannot be proceeded further.

Is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ an exothermic or endothermic reaction

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is an endothermic reaction as the reaction enthalpy has a high positive value here.

Is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ a redox reaction

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is not a redox reaction as the oxidation states of all the atoms are unchanged during the whole process.

Is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ a precipitation reaction

The H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is not a precipitation reaction as no solid phase compound is formed at the end of this reaction.

Is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ reversible or irreversible reaction

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is an irreversible reaction because we cannot add the SO₃ gas evolved during the process back into the reaction mixture.

Is H₂SO₄ + P­₄O₁₀ displacement reaction

H₂SO₄ + P₄O₁₀ reaction is a double displacement reaction in which Hydrogen and Phosphorus atom displace each other to form new compounds.

Conclusion:

This article concludes that both H₂SO₄ and P₄O₁₀ are very important compounds of chemistry. H₂SO₄ is a strong dehydrator and P₄O₁₀ is a stronger version of H₂SO₄. P₄O₁₀ reacts vigorously with water to produce phosphoric acid.