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78-548: Several types of atmospheric aerosol have a significant effect on Earth's climate: volcanic, desert dust, sea-salt, that originating from biogenic sources and human-made. Volcanic aerosol forms in the stratosphere after an eruption as droplets of sulfuric acid that can prevail for up to two years, and reflect sunlight, lowering temperature. Desert dust, mineral particles blown to high altitudes, absorb heat and may be responsible for inhibiting storm cloud formation. Human-made sulfate aerosols , primarily from burning oil and coal, affect

156-618: A cloud seed . More and more water accumulates on the seed until a visible cloud is formed. In the case of ship tracks, the cloud seeds are stretched over a long narrow path where the wind has blown the ship's exhaust, so the resulting clouds resemble long strings over the ocean. The warming caused by human-produced greenhouse gases has been somewhat offset by the cooling effect of human-produced aerosols. In 2020, regulations on fuel significantly cut sulfur dioxide emissions from international shipping by approximately 80%, leading to an unexpected global geoengineering termination shock. Aerosols in

234-716: A cloud seed . More and more water accumulates on the seed until a visible cloud is formed. In the case of ship tracks, the cloud seeds are stretched over a long narrow path where the wind has blown the ship's exhaust, so the resulting clouds resemble long strings over the ocean. The warming caused by human-produced greenhouse gases has been somewhat offset by the cooling effect of human-produced aerosols. In 2020, regulations on fuel significantly cut sulfur dioxide emissions from international shipping by approximately 80%, leading to an unexpected global geoengineering termination shock. The liquid or solid particles in an aerosol have diameters typically less than 1 μm . Larger particles with

312-407: A histogram with the area of each bar representing the proportion of particles in that size bin, usually normalised by dividing the number of particles in a bin by the width of the interval so that the area of each bar is proportionate to the number of particles in the size range that it represents. If the width of the bins tends to zero , the frequency function is: where Therefore, the area under

390-434: A hydrogen-based economy . It is an alternative to electrolysis , and does not require hydrocarbons like current methods of steam reforming . But note that all of the available energy in the hydrogen so produced is supplied by the heat used to make it. Sulfuric acid is rarely encountered naturally on Earth in anhydrous form, due to its great affinity for water . Dilute sulfuric acid is a constituent of acid rain , which

468-434: A hydrogen-based economy . It is an alternative to electrolysis , and does not require hydrocarbons like current methods of steam reforming . But note that all of the available energy in the hydrogen so produced is supplied by the heat used to make it. Sulfuric acid is rarely encountered naturally on Earth in anhydrous form, due to its great affinity for water . Dilute sulfuric acid is a constituent of acid rain , which

546-610: A base and can be protonated, forming the [H 3 SO 4 ] ion. Salts of [H 3 SO 4 ] have been prepared (e.g. trihydroxyoxosulfonium hexafluoroantimonate(V) [H 3 SO 4 ] [SbF 6 ] ) using the following reaction in liquid HF : The above reaction is thermodynamically favored due to the high bond enthalpy of the Si–F bond in the side product. Protonation using simply fluoroantimonic acid , however, has met with failure, as pure sulfuric acid undergoes self-ionization to give [H 3 O] ions: which prevents

624-563: A base and can be protonated, forming the [H 3 SO 4 ] ion. Salts of [H 3 SO 4 ] have been prepared (e.g. trihydroxyoxosulfonium hexafluoroantimonate(V) [H 3 SO 4 ] [SbF 6 ] ) using the following reaction in liquid HF : The above reaction is thermodynamically favored due to the high bond enthalpy of the Si–F bond in the side product. Protonation using simply fluoroantimonic acid , however, has met with failure, as pure sulfuric acid undergoes self-ionization to give [H 3 O] ions: which prevents

702-408: A burnt appearance in which the carbon appears much like soot that results from fire. Although less dramatic, the action of the acid on cotton , even in diluted form, destroys the fabric. The reaction with copper(II) sulfate can also demonstrate the dehydration property of sulfuric acid. The blue crystals change into white powder as water is removed. Sulfuric acid reacts with most bases to give

780-408: A burnt appearance in which the carbon appears much like soot that results from fire. Although less dramatic, the action of the acid on cotton , even in diluted form, destroys the fabric. The reaction with copper(II) sulfate can also demonstrate the dehydration property of sulfuric acid. The blue crystals change into white powder as water is removed. Sulfuric acid reacts with most bases to give

858-411: A dehydrating agent, forming the nitronium ion NO + 2 , which is important in nitration reactions involving electrophilic aromatic substitution . This type of reaction, where protonation occurs on an oxygen atom, is important in many organic chemistry reactions, such as Fischer esterification and dehydration of alcohols. When allowed to react with superacids , sulfuric acid can act as

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936-411: A dehydrating agent, forming the nitronium ion NO + 2 , which is important in nitration reactions involving electrophilic aromatic substitution . This type of reaction, where protonation occurs on an oxygen atom, is important in many organic chemistry reactions, such as Fischer esterification and dehydration of alcohols. When allowed to react with superacids , sulfuric acid can act as

1014-506: A significant effect on Earth's climate: volcanic, desert dust, sea-salt, that originating from biogenic sources and human-made. Volcanic aerosol forms in the stratosphere after an eruption as droplets of sulfuric acid that can prevail for up to two years, and reflect sunlight, lowering temperature. Desert dust, mineral particles blown to high altitudes, absorb heat and may be responsible for inhibiting storm cloud formation. Human-made sulfate aerosols , primarily from burning oil and coal, affect

1092-427: A significant settling speed make the mixture a suspension , but the distinction is not clear. In everyday language, aerosol often refers to a dispensing system that delivers a consumer product from a spray can . Diseases can spread by means of small droplets in the breath , sometimes called bioaerosols . Aerosol is defined as a suspension system of solid or liquid particles in a gas. An aerosol includes both

1170-487: A slower rate, so that the acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) of the aquifer can neutralize the produced acid. In such cases, the total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of the water can be increased from the dissolution of minerals from the acid-neutralization reaction with the minerals. Sulfuric acid is used as a defense by certain marine species, for example, the phaeophyte alga Desmarestia munda (order Desmarestiales ) concentrates sulfuric acid in cell vacuoles. In

1248-487: A slower rate, so that the acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) of the aquifer can neutralize the produced acid. In such cases, the total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration of the water can be increased from the dissolution of minerals from the acid-neutralization reaction with the minerals. Sulfuric acid is used as a defense by certain marine species, for example, the phaeophyte alga Desmarestia munda (order Desmarestiales ) concentrates sulfuric acid in cell vacuoles. In

1326-420: A strong oxidant with powerful dehydrating properties, making it highly corrosive towards other materials, from rocks to metals. Phosphorus pentoxide is a notable exception in that it is not dehydrated by sulfuric acid but, to the contrary, dehydrates sulfuric acid to sulfur trioxide . Upon addition of sulfuric acid to water, a considerable amount of heat is released; thus, the reverse procedure of adding water to

1404-510: A vapor pressure of <1 mmHg at 40 °C. In the solid state, sulfuric acid is a molecular solid that forms monoclinic crystals with nearly trigonal lattice parameters. The structure consists of layers parallel to the (010) plane, in which each molecule is connected by hydrogen bonds to two others. Hydrates H 2 SO 4 · n H 2 O are known for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6.5, and 8, although most intermediate hydrates are stable against disproportionation . Anhydrous H 2 SO 4

1482-487: A volume of gas under study include diffusion , gravitational settling, and electric charges and other external forces that cause particle migration. A second set of processes internal to a given volume of gas include particle formation (nucleation), evaporation, chemical reaction, and coagulation. Sulfuric acid Sulfuric acid ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name ) or sulphuric acid ( Commonwealth spelling ), known in antiquity as oil of vitriol ,

1560-441: A wide range of end applications, including in domestic acidic drain cleaners , as an electrolyte in lead-acid batteries , as a dehydrating compound, and in various cleaning agents . Sulfuric acid can be obtained by dissolving sulfur trioxide in water. Although nearly 100% sulfuric acid solutions can be made, the subsequent loss of SO 3 at the boiling point brings the concentration to 98.3% acid. The 98.3% grade, which

1638-403: Is soluble with water. Pure sulfuric acid does not occur naturally due to its strong affinity to water vapor ; it is hygroscopic and readily absorbs water vapor from the air . Concentrated sulfuric acid is a strong oxidant with powerful dehydrating properties, making it highly corrosive towards other materials, from rocks to metals. Phosphorus pentoxide is a notable exception in that it

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1716-401: Is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulfur , oxygen , and hydrogen , with the molecular formula H 2 SO 4 . It is a colorless, odorless, and viscous liquid that is soluble with water. Pure sulfuric acid does not occur naturally due to its strong affinity to water vapor ; it is hygroscopic and readily absorbs water vapor from the air . Concentrated sulfuric acid is

1794-442: Is a common laboratory demonstration. The sugar darkens as carbon is formed, and a rigid column of black, porous carbon called a carbon snake may emerge. Similarly, mixing starch into concentrated sulfuric acid gives elemental carbon and water. The effect of this can also be seen when concentrated sulfuric acid is spilled on paper. Paper is composed of cellulose , a polysaccharide related to starch. The cellulose reacts to give

1872-442: Is a common laboratory demonstration. The sugar darkens as carbon is formed, and a rigid column of black, porous carbon called a carbon snake may emerge. Similarly, mixing starch into concentrated sulfuric acid gives elemental carbon and water. The effect of this can also be seen when concentrated sulfuric acid is spilled on paper. Paper is composed of cellulose , a polysaccharide related to starch. The cellulose reacts to give

1950-484: Is a strong acid: The product of this ionization is HSO − 4 , the bisulfate anion. Bisulfate is a far weaker acid: The product of this second dissociation is SO 2− 4 , the sulfate anion. Concentrated sulfuric acid has a powerful dehydrating property, removing water ( H 2 O ) from other chemical compounds such as table sugar ( sucrose ) and other carbohydrates , to produce carbon , steam , and heat. Dehydration of table sugar (sucrose)

2028-484: Is a strong acid: The product of this ionization is HSO − 4 , the bisulfate anion. Bisulfate is a far weaker acid: The product of this second dissociation is SO 2− 4 , the sulfate anion. Concentrated sulfuric acid has a powerful dehydrating property, removing water ( H 2 O ) from other chemical compounds such as table sugar ( sucrose ) and other carbohydrates , to produce carbon , steam , and heat. Dehydration of table sugar (sucrose)

2106-429: Is a very polar liquid, having a dielectric constant of around 100. It has a high electrical conductivity , a consequence of autoprotolysis , i.e. self- protonation  : The equilibrium constant for autoprotolysis (25 °C) is: The corresponding equilibrium constant for water , K w is 10 , a factor of 10 (10 billion) smaller. In spite of the viscosity of the acid, the effective conductivities of

2184-429: Is a very polar liquid, having a dielectric constant of around 100. It has a high electrical conductivity , a consequence of autoprotolysis , i.e. self- protonation  : The equilibrium constant for autoprotolysis (25 °C) is: The corresponding equilibrium constant for water , K w is 10 , a factor of 10 (10 billion) smaller. In spite of the viscosity of the acid, the effective conductivities of

2262-508: Is a very important commodity chemical; a country's sulfuric acid production is a good indicator of its industrial strength. Many methods for its production are known, including the contact process , the wet sulfuric acid process , and the lead chamber process . Sulfuric acid is also a key substance in the chemical industry . It is most commonly used in fertilizer manufacture but is also important in mineral processing , oil refining , wastewater processing , and chemical synthesis . It has

2340-547: Is also a key substance in the chemical industry . It is most commonly used in fertilizer manufacture but is also important in mineral processing , oil refining , wastewater processing , and chemical synthesis . It has a wide range of end applications, including in domestic acidic drain cleaners , as an electrolyte in lead-acid batteries , as a dehydrating compound, and in various cleaning agents . Sulfuric acid can be obtained by dissolving sulfur trioxide in water. Although nearly 100% sulfuric acid solutions can be made,

2418-499: Is called acid mine drainage (AMD) or acid rock drainage (ARD). The Fe can be further oxidized to Fe : The Fe produced can be precipitated as the hydroxide or hydrous iron oxide : The iron(III) ion ("ferric iron") can also oxidize pyrite: When iron(III) oxidation of pyrite occurs, the process can become rapid. pH values below zero have been measured in ARD produced by this process. ARD can also produce sulfuric acid at

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2496-453: Is called acid mine drainage (AMD) or acid rock drainage (ARD). The Fe can be further oxidized to Fe : The Fe produced can be precipitated as the hydroxide or hydrous iron oxide : The iron(III) ion ("ferric iron") can also oxidize pyrite: When iron(III) oxidation of pyrite occurs, the process can become rapid. pH values below zero have been measured in ARD produced by this process. ARD can also produce sulfuric acid at

2574-402: Is formed by atmospheric oxidation of sulfur dioxide in the presence of water – i.e. oxidation of sulfurous acid . When sulfur-containing fuels such as coal or oil are burned, sulfur dioxide is the main byproduct (besides the chief products carbon oxides and water). Sulfuric acid is formed naturally by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, such as pyrite : The resulting highly acidic water

2652-402: Is formed by atmospheric oxidation of sulfur dioxide in the presence of water – i.e. oxidation of sulfurous acid . When sulfur-containing fuels such as coal or oil are burned, sulfur dioxide is the main byproduct (besides the chief products carbon oxides and water). Sulfuric acid is formed naturally by the oxidation of sulfide minerals, such as pyrite : The resulting highly acidic water

2730-452: Is more stable in storage, is the usual form of what is described as "concentrated sulfuric acid". Other concentrations are used for different purposes. Some common concentrations are: "Chamber acid" and "tower acid" were the two concentrations of sulfuric acid produced by the lead chamber process , chamber acid being the acid produced in the lead chamber itself (<70% to avoid contamination with nitrosylsulfuric acid ) and tower acid being

2808-522: Is not dehydrated by sulfuric acid but, to the contrary, dehydrates sulfuric acid to sulfur trioxide . Upon addition of sulfuric acid to water, a considerable amount of heat is released; thus, the reverse procedure of adding water to the acid is generally avoided since the heat released may boil the solution, spraying droplets of hot acid during the process. Upon contact with body tissue, sulfuric acid can cause severe acidic chemical burns and secondary thermal burns due to dehydration. Dilute sulfuric acid

2886-493: Is prepared by slowly adding 98% sulfuric acid to an equal volume of water, with good stirring: the temperature of the mixture can rise to 80 °C (176 °F) or higher. Sulfuric acid contains not only H 2 SO 4 molecules, but is actually an equilibrium of many other chemical species, as it is shown in the table below. Sulfuric acid is a colorless oily liquid, and has a vapor pressure of <0.001 mmHg at 25 °C and 1 mmHg at 145.8 °C, and 98% sulfuric acid has

2964-428: Is substantially less hazardous without the oxidative and dehydrating properties; though, it is handled with care for its acidity. Sulfuric acid is a very important commodity chemical; a country's sulfuric acid production is a good indicator of its industrial strength. Many methods for its production are known, including the contact process , the wet sulfuric acid process , and the lead chamber process . Sulfuric acid

3042-466: The H 3 SO + 4 and HSO − 4 ions are high due to an intramolecular proton-switch mechanism (analogous to the Grotthuss mechanism in water), making sulfuric acid a good conductor of electricity. It is also an excellent solvent for many reactions. The hydration reaction of sulfuric acid is highly exothermic , dilution. As indicated by its acid dissociation constant , sulfuric acid

3120-415: The H 3 SO + 4 and HSO − 4 ions are high due to an intramolecular proton-switch mechanism (analogous to the Grotthuss mechanism in water), making sulfuric acid a good conductor of electricity. It is also an excellent solvent for many reactions. The hydration reaction of sulfuric acid is highly exothermic , dilution. As indicated by its acid dissociation constant , sulfuric acid

3198-507: The mass concentration ( M ), defined as the mass of particulate matter per unit volume, in units such as μg/m. Also commonly used is the number concentration ( N ), the number of particles per unit volume, in units such as number per m or number per cm. Particle size has a major influence on particle properties, and the aerosol particle radius or diameter ( d p ) is a key property used to characterise aerosols. Aerosols vary in their dispersity . A monodisperse aerosol, producible in

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3276-516: The power function distribution , occasionally applied to atmospheric aerosols; the exponential distribution , applied to powdered materials; and for cloud droplets, the Khrgian–Mazin distribution. For low values of the Reynolds number (<1), true for most aerosol motion, Stokes' law describes the force of resistance on a solid spherical particle in a fluid. However, Stokes' law is only valid when

3354-426: The skewness associated with a long tail of larger particles. Also for a quantity that varies over a large range, as many aerosol sizes do, the width of the distribution implies negative particles sizes, which is not physically realistic. However, the normal distribution can be suitable for some aerosols, such as test aerosols, certain pollen grains and spores . A more widely chosen log-normal distribution gives

3432-448: The stratosphere , the atmosphere's second layer that is generally between 10 and 50 km above Earth's surface, sulfuric acid is formed by the oxidation of volcanic sulfur dioxide by the hydroxyl radical : Because sulfuric acid reaches supersaturation in the stratosphere, it can nucleate aerosol particles and provide a surface for aerosol growth via condensation and coagulation with other water-sulfuric acid aerosols. This results in

3510-448: The stratosphere , the atmosphere's second layer that is generally between 10 and 50 km above Earth's surface, sulfuric acid is formed by the oxidation of volcanic sulfur dioxide by the hydroxyl radical : Because sulfuric acid reaches supersaturation in the stratosphere, it can nucleate aerosol particles and provide a surface for aerosol growth via condensation and coagulation with other water-sulfuric acid aerosols. This results in

3588-418: The stratospheric aerosol layer . The permanent Venusian clouds produce a concentrated acid rain, as the clouds in the atmosphere of Earth produce water rain. Jupiter 's moon Europa is also thought to have an atmosphere containing sulfuric acid hydrates. Sulfuric acid is produced from sulfur , oxygen and water via the conventional contact process (DCDA) or the wet sulfuric acid process (WSA). In

3666-418: The stratospheric aerosol layer . The permanent Venusian clouds produce a concentrated acid rain, as the clouds in the atmosphere of Earth produce water rain. Jupiter 's moon Europa is also thought to have an atmosphere containing sulfuric acid hydrates. Sulfuric acid is produced from sulfur , oxygen and water via the conventional contact process (DCDA) or the wet sulfuric acid process (WSA). In

3744-512: The terminal velocity of a particle undergoing gravitational settling in still air. Neglecting buoyancy effects, we find: where The terminal velocity can also be derived for other kinds of forces. If Stokes' law holds, then the resistance to motion is directly proportional to speed. The constant of proportionality is the mechanical mobility ( B ) of a particle: A particle traveling at any reasonable initial velocity approaches its terminal velocity exponentially with an e -folding time equal to

3822-482: The 20 μm range show a particularly long persistence time in air conditioned rooms due to their "jet rider" behaviour (move with air jets, gravitationally fall out in slowly moving air); as this aerosol size is most effectively adsorbed in the human nose, the primordial infection site in COVID-19 , such aerosols may contribute to the pandemic. Aerosol particles with an effective diameter smaller than 10 μm can enter

3900-450: The Earth's atmosphere can influence its climate, as well as human health. Volcanic eruptions release large amounts of sulphuric acid , hydrogen sulfide and hydrochloric acid into the atmosphere. These gases represent aerosols and eventually return to earth as acid rain , having a number of adverse effects on the environment and human life. When aerosols absorb pollutants, it facilitates

3978-434: The acid is generally avoided since the heat released may boil the solution, spraying droplets of hot acid during the process. Upon contact with body tissue, sulfuric acid can cause severe acidic chemical burns and secondary thermal burns due to dehydration. Dilute sulfuric acid is substantially less hazardous without the oxidative and dehydrating properties; though, it is handled with care for its acidity. Sulfuric acid

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4056-498: The acid produced in the lead chamber itself (<70% to avoid contamination with nitrosylsulfuric acid ) and tower acid being the acid recovered from the bottom of the Glover tower. They are now obsolete as commercial concentrations of sulfuric acid, although they may be prepared in the laboratory from concentrated sulfuric acid if needed. In particular, "10 M" sulfuric acid (the modern equivalent of chamber acid, used in many titrations ),

4134-417: The acid recovered from the bottom of the Glover tower. They are now obsolete as commercial concentrations of sulfuric acid, although they may be prepared in the laboratory from concentrated sulfuric acid if needed. In particular, "10 M" sulfuric acid (the modern equivalent of chamber acid, used in many titrations ), is prepared by slowly adding 98% sulfuric acid to an equal volume of water, with good stirring:

4212-449: The behavior of clouds. Although all hydrometeors , solid and liquid, can be described as aerosols, a distinction is commonly made between such dispersions (i.e. clouds) containing activated drops and crystals, and aerosol particles. The atmosphere of Earth contains aerosols of various types and concentrations, including quantities of: Aerosols can be found in urban ecosystems in various forms, for example: The presence of aerosols in

4290-429: The behavior of clouds. When aerosols absorb pollutants, it facilitates the deposition of pollutants to the surface of the earth as well as to bodies of water. This has the potential to be damaging to both the environment and human health. Ship tracks are clouds that form around the exhaust released by ships into the still ocean air. Water molecules collect around the tiny particles ( aerosols ) from exhaust to form

4368-438: The bronchi, while the ones with an effective diameter smaller than 2.5 μm can enter as far as the gas exchange region in the lungs, which can be hazardous to human health. For a monodisperse aerosol, a single number—the particle diameter—suffices to describe the size of the particles. However, more complicated particle-size distributions describe the sizes of the particles in a polydisperse aerosol. This distribution defines

4446-837: The conversion of H 2 SO 4 to [H 3 SO 4 ] by the HF/ SbF 5 system. Even dilute sulfuric acid reacts with many metals via a single displacement reaction, like other typical acids , producing hydrogen gas and salts (the metal sulfate). It attacks reactive metals (metals at positions above copper in the reactivity series ) such as iron , aluminium , zinc , manganese , magnesium , and nickel . Concentrated sulfuric acid can serve as an oxidizing agent , releasing sulfur dioxide: Lead and tungsten , however, are resistant to sulfuric acid. Hot concentrated sulfuric acid oxidizes carbon (as bituminous coal ) and sulfur : Benzene and many derivatives undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution with sulfuric acid to give

4524-787: The conversion of H 2 SO 4 to [H 3 SO 4 ] by the HF/ SbF 5 system. Even dilute sulfuric acid reacts with many metals via a single displacement reaction, like other typical acids , producing hydrogen gas and salts (the metal sulfate). It attacks reactive metals (metals at positions above copper in the reactivity series ) such as iron , aluminium , zinc , manganese , magnesium , and nickel . Concentrated sulfuric acid can serve as an oxidizing agent , releasing sulfur dioxide: Lead and tungsten , however, are resistant to sulfuric acid. Hot concentrated sulfuric acid oxidizes carbon (as bituminous coal ) and sulfur : Benzene and many derivatives undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution with sulfuric acid to give

4602-412: The corresponding sulfonic acids : Sulfuric acid can be used to produce hydrogen from water : The compounds of sulfur and iodine are recovered and reused, hence the process is called the sulfur–iodine cycle . This process is endothermic and must occur at high temperatures, so energy in the form of heat has to be supplied. The sulfur–iodine cycle has been proposed as a way to supply hydrogen for

4680-412: The corresponding sulfonic acids : Sulfuric acid can be used to produce hydrogen from water : The compounds of sulfur and iodine are recovered and reused, hence the process is called the sulfur–iodine cycle . This process is endothermic and must occur at high temperatures, so energy in the form of heat has to be supplied. The sulfur–iodine cycle has been proposed as a way to supply hydrogen for

4758-606: The corresponding sulfate or bisulfate. Sulfuric acid reacts with sodium chloride , and gives hydrogen chloride gas and sodium bisulfate : Aluminium sulfate , also known as paper maker's alum, is made by treating bauxite with sulfuric acid: Sulfuric acid can also be used to displace weaker acids from their salts. Reaction with sodium acetate , for example, displaces acetic acid , CH 3 COOH , and forms sodium bisulfate : Similarly, treating potassium nitrate with sulfuric acid produces nitric acid . When combined with nitric acid , sulfuric acid acts both as an acid and

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4836-606: The corresponding sulfate or bisulfate. Sulfuric acid reacts with sodium chloride , and gives hydrogen chloride gas and sodium bisulfate : Aluminium sulfate , also known as paper maker's alum, is made by treating bauxite with sulfuric acid: Sulfuric acid can also be used to displace weaker acids from their salts. Reaction with sodium acetate , for example, displaces acetic acid , CH 3 COOH , and forms sodium bisulfate : Similarly, treating potassium nitrate with sulfuric acid produces nitric acid . When combined with nitric acid , sulfuric acid acts both as an acid and

4914-495: The deposition of pollutants to the surface of the earth as well as to bodies of water. This has the potential to be damaging to both the environment and human health. Aerosols interact with the Earth's energy budget in two ways, directly and indirectly. Ship tracks are clouds that form around the exhaust released by ships into the still ocean air. Water molecules collect around the tiny particles ( aerosols ) from exhaust to form

4992-440: The diameter of the spherical particle with a density of 1000 kg/m and the same settling velocity as the irregular particle. Neglecting the slip correction, the particle settles at the terminal velocity proportional to the square of the aerodynamic diameter, d a : where This equation gives the aerodynamic diameter: One can apply the aerodynamic diameter to particulate pollutants or to inhaled drugs to predict where in

5070-427: The first step, sulfur is burned to produce sulfur dioxide. Sulfuric acid Sulfuric acid ( American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name ) or sulphuric acid ( Commonwealth spelling ), known in antiquity as oil of vitriol , is a mineral acid composed of the elements sulfur , oxygen , and hydrogen , with the molecular formula H 2 SO 4 . It is a colorless, odorless, and viscous liquid that

5148-554: The frequency curve between two sizes a and b represents the total fraction of the particles in that size range: It can also be formulated in terms of the total number density N : Assuming spherical aerosol particles, the aerosol surface area per unit volume ( S ) is given by the second moment : And the third moment gives the total volume concentration ( V ) of the particles: The particle size distribution can be approximated. The normal distribution usually does not suitably describe particle size distributions in aerosols because of

5226-402: The laboratory, contains particles of uniform size. Most aerosols, however, as polydisperse colloidal systems, exhibit a range of particle sizes. Liquid droplets are almost always nearly spherical, but scientists use an equivalent diameter to characterize the properties of various shapes of solid particles, some very irregular. The equivalent diameter is the diameter of a spherical particle with

5304-532: The number frequency as: where: The log-normal distribution has no negative values, can cover a wide range of values, and fits many observed size distributions reasonably well. Other distributions sometimes used to characterise particle size include: the Rosin-Rammler distribution , applied to coarsely dispersed dusts and sprays; the Nukiyama–Tanasawa distribution, for sprays of extremely broad size ranges;

5382-515: The particles and the suspending gas, which is usually air. Meteorologists and climatologists often refer to them as particle matter, while the classification in sizes ranges like PM2.5 or PM10, is useful in the field of atmospheric pollution as these size range play a role in ascertain the harmful effects in human health. Frederick G. Donnan presumably first used the term aerosol during World War I to describe an aero- solution , clouds of microscopic particles in air. This term developed analogously to

5460-435: The relative amounts of particles, sorted according to size. One approach to defining the particle size distribution uses a list of the sizes of every particle in a sample. However, this approach proves tedious to ascertain in aerosols with millions of particles and awkward to use. Another approach splits the size range into intervals and finds the number (or proportion) of particles in each interval. These data can be presented in

5538-399: The relaxation time: where: To account for the effect of the shape of non-spherical particles, a correction factor known as the dynamic shape factor is applied to Stokes' law. It is defined as the ratio of the resistive force of the irregular particle to that of a spherical particle with the same volume and velocity: where: The aerodynamic diameter of an irregular particle is defined as

5616-460: The respiratory tract such particles deposit. Pharmaceutical companies typically use aerodynamic diameter, not geometric diameter, to characterize particles in inhalable drugs. The previous discussion focused on single aerosol particles. In contrast, aerosol dynamics explains the evolution of complete aerosol populations. The concentrations of particles will change over time as a result of many processes. External processes that move particles outside

5694-418: The same value of some physical property as the irregular particle. The equivalent volume diameter ( d e ) is defined as the diameter of a sphere of the same volume as that of the irregular particle. Also commonly used is the aerodynamic diameter ,  d a . People generate aerosols for various purposes, including: Some devices for generating aerosols are: Several types of atmospheric aerosol have

5772-458: The solid state, sulfuric acid is a molecular solid that forms monoclinic crystals with nearly trigonal lattice parameters. The structure consists of layers parallel to the (010) plane, in which each molecule is connected by hydrogen bonds to two others. Hydrates H 2 SO 4 · n H 2 O are known for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 6.5, and 8, although most intermediate hydrates are stable against disproportionation . Anhydrous H 2 SO 4

5850-445: The subsequent loss of SO 3 at the boiling point brings the concentration to 98.3% acid. The 98.3% grade, which is more stable in storage, is the usual form of what is described as "concentrated sulfuric acid". Other concentrations are used for different purposes. Some common concentrations are: "Chamber acid" and "tower acid" were the two concentrations of sulfuric acid produced by the lead chamber process , chamber acid being

5928-449: The temperature of the mixture can rise to 80 °C (176 °F) or higher. Sulfuric acid contains not only H 2 SO 4 molecules, but is actually an equilibrium of many other chemical species, as it is shown in the table below. Sulfuric acid is a colorless oily liquid, and has a vapor pressure of <0.001 mmHg at 25 °C and 1 mmHg at 145.8 °C, and 98% sulfuric acid has a vapor pressure of <1 mmHg at 40 °C. In

6006-621: The term hydrosol , a colloid system with water as the dispersed medium. Primary aerosols contain particles introduced directly into the gas; secondary aerosols form through gas-to-particle conversion. Key aerosol groups include sulfates, organic carbon, black carbon, nitrates, mineral dust, and sea salt, they usually clump together to form a complex mixture. Various types of aerosol, classified according to physical form and how they were generated, include dust, fume, mist, smoke and fog. There are several measures of aerosol concentration. Environmental science and environmental health often use

6084-462: The velocity of the gas at the surface of the particle is zero. For small particles (< 1 μm) that characterize aerosols, however, this assumption fails. To account for this failure, one can introduce the Cunningham correction factor , always greater than 1. Including this factor, one finds the relation between the resisting force on a particle and its velocity: where This allows us to calculate

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