15 Facts on H2SO4-HGO: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Sulphuric acid reacts with mercury oxide forms white monoclinic crystals along with hydrogen oxide. Let us in detail study the reaction.

Sulfuric acid is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid, miscible in water. It is a crucial commodity and industrial chemical, produced from different methods such as the lead chamber process, contact process, etc. Mercury oxide is used in the production of mercury and as a substance for cathodes in mercury batteries.

The reaction of H₂SO₄ and HgO is examined to assess their potential in industrial manufacture. The reaction is further investigated for the following chemical reactivity’s.

What is the product of H₂SO₄ and HgO?

Mercury oxide (HgO) reacts with Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) to form mercuric sulfate (HgSO₄) and water (H₂O).

H₂SO₄ + HgO → H₂O + HgSO₄        

What type of reaction is H₂SO₄ + HgO?

H₂SO₄ + HgO is a double displacement and endothermic reaction.

How to balance H₂SO₄ + HgO?

The steps followed to balance a chemical reaction are:

• Write down the unbalanced chemical as:
• HgO + H₂SO₄ → H₂O + HgSO₄        
• Tabulate down the number of moles as shown below :

Compounds	Reactant	Product
Hg	1	1
S	1	1
O	5	5
H	2	2

• A chemical reaction is balanced when the number of moles on the left hand side of the arrow is equal to the number of moles on the right hand side of the arrow.
• Here moles of each elements are balanced on either side.
• The Balanced chemical reaction is
• HgO + H₂SO₄ → H₂O + HgSO₄

H₂SO₄ + HgO titration

H₂SO₄ + HgO titration cannot be performed because it is not an acid base reaction.

H₂SO₄ + HgO net ionic equation

The net ionic equation is – HgO(s) + 2H⁺(aq) = H₂O(l) + Hg²⁺(aq)

Following steps are to be followed:

1. Firstly, the phase/state of each element is determined as shown below:
2. HgO(s) + H₂SO₄(aq) = H₂O(l) + HgSO₄(aq)
3. Secondly, the ionic compounds are separated into their respective ions, which is defined as the complete ionic equation–
4. HgO(s) + 2H⁺(aq) + SO₄^2-(aq) = H₂O(l) + Hg²⁺(aq) + SO₄^2-(aq)
5. The common ions present on either side of the arrows are removed.
6. HgO(s) + 2H⁺(aq) + SO₄^2-(aq) = H₂O(l) + Hg²⁺(aq) + SO₄^2-(aq)
7. Finally, the net ionic equation includes only the compound which are taking place in the reaction.
8. The net ionic equation is –
9. HgO(s) + 2H⁺(aq) = H₂O(l) + Hg²⁺(aq)

H₂SO₄ + HgO conjugate pairs

The conjugate acid-base pairs for H₂SO₄ + HgO are,

• Conjugate acid of H₂SO₄ =  H₃O⁺
• Conjugate base of H₂SO₄  = HSO₄^– 
• Conjugate acid of HgO  = Hg^–

H₂SO₄ + HgO intermolecular forces

The intermolecular forces on H₂SO₄ and Hg₂(NO₃)₂ are-

• Dipole-dipole interaction, , Hydrogen bond and Van der Waals dispersion forces acts on H₂SO₄.
• London dispersion forces and metallic bonds act on HgO.

H₂SO₄ + HgO reaction enthalpy

H₂SO₄ + HgO change in reaction enthalpy is 6.44 kJ/mol,

Follow the below steps to calculate change in reaction enthalpy –

• Tabulate down the reactant side of each compound on the reactant side and product side as shown below

Compounds	Enthalpy (kJ/mol)
H2SO4	-909.27
HgO	-90.83
HgSo4	-707.5
H2O	-285.33

• Change in reaction enthalpy = Sum of enthalpies in product side – sum of enthalpies in reactant side.
• Change in Enthalpy  =  (-707.5-285.83) – (-909.27-90.83) = +6.67 kJ/mol.

Is H₂SO₄ + HgO a buffer solution?

H₂SO₄ + HgO is not a  buffer solution because reaction is carried out in presence of strong H₂SO₄  acid.

Is H₂SO₄ + HgO a complete reaction?

H₂SO₄ + HgO is described as a complete reaction since moles of reactant are consumed completely to yield products at equilibrium.

Is H₂SO₄ + HgO an exothermic or endothermic reaction?

H₂SO₄ + HgO is an endothermic reaction because the change in enthalpy is +6.44 kJ/mol, which is positive thereby decreasing the temperature.

Is H₂SO₄ + HgO a redox reaction?

H₂SO₄ + HgO is not a redox reaction because the oxidation state of elements remains unchanged throughout the reaction.

Is H₂SO₄ + HgO a precipitation reaction?

H₂SO₄ + HgO is not a precipitate reaction. When HgSO₄ is added to a solution containing tertiary compunds it will give a red or yellow precipitate.

Is H₂SO₄ + HgO reversible or irreversible reaction?

H₂SO₄ + HgO is not a reversible reaction. The reaction can only be reversed when there is a drastic change in temperature or pressure.

Is H₂SO₄ + HgO displacement reaction?

H₂SO₄ + HgO shows a  double displacement (metathesis) reaction. In this reaction, SO₄ is reacted with Hg to form HgSO₄, and H₂ reacts with O to form H₂O.

Conclusion

The reaction of mercuric oxide with hydrogen sulphate is a endothermic, double displacement reaction.  Mercury sulphate is commonly used as catalysts in oxymercuration – demercuration, also in the production of acetaldehyde. It is an odorless solid which forms crystalline powder or white granules.