The contact process is a method used industrially to form sulfur trioxide, by reacting sulfur dioxide and oxygen together over a vanadium(V) oxide catalyst.
The equation for this reaction is shown below:
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) ⇌ 2SO3 (g)
Enthalpy of formation values are shown in Table 3.2
Table 3.2
Substance | Formation enthalpy values (kJ mol-1) |
|---|
SO2 (g) | –297 |
SO3 (g) | –395 |
i) Using Table 3.2, calculate the standard enthalpy change of reaction, ΔHθ, using the data provided. Show your working.
[2]
ii) The standard entropy change of this reaction is –189 J K–1 mol–1. Use this value and your enthalpy value from part (i) to calculate the standard Gibbs free energy change, ΔGθ, for this reaction at 298 K. Show your working.
[3]
iii) Use your answer to part (ii) to state whether the reaction is feasible at 298 K.
[1]