Manufacture, properties and

use of nitric acid ,sulfuric

acid ,hydrochloric acid,
phosphorous, and
phosphoric acid
 Nitric acid

 Manufacturing
 Properties
-chemical properties
-physical properties
 Uses
 Manufacturing of nitric acid
 HNO3 is difficult to manufacture as a pure substance due to
its tendency to decompose. Virtually all HNO3 manufacture
is by oxidation of ammonia. The concentrated acid is an
aqueous solution containing 70 % (w/w) (16 M) HNO3
(azeotropic mixture).
 “White” fuming HNO3 is a highly concentrated acid,
typically > 90 %, containing 0.1-0.4 % nitrogen dioxide.
 “Red” fuming HNO3 contains 8-17 % dissolved nitrogen
dioxide. In practice, HNO3 is usually found in conjunction
with NOx, and vapours of HNO3 are always a mixture of acid,
NOx, oxygen and water whose composition is determined by
factors such as temperature and humidity.
 Properties of Nitric Acid
Physical Properties
 Pure nitric acid is a colorless fuming liquid with a pungent odor.
Impure acid or pure acid on standing develops yellow color due
to the presence of dissolved oxides of nitrogen (mainly NO2).
 It is completely soluble in water and forms a constant boiling
mixture (120.5°C) with water, containing 68% (by mass) of nitric
acid.
 Pure acid has a density of 1.54 g/mL. The constant boiling
mixture has a density of 1.4 g/mL at 20°C.
 Anhydrous nitric acid boils at 355.6 K (83.6°C) and freezes to
a white solid at 231.4 K (- 41.7°C).
 It has a corrosive action on the skin and causes yellow
blisters.
Chemical properties
 Stability
Pure nitric acid is not very stable. Even at ordinary
temperature, in presence of sunlight it undergoes slight
decomposition. As the temperature increases, the rate of
decomposition also increases. On strong heating it
decomposes completely to give nitrogen dioxide, water and
oxygen.
 Activity
The combustion tube is heated strongly and concentrated
nitric acid is allowed to flow into it. Due to the heat, it
decomposes, liberating the corresponding gases.
Reddish yellow fumes of nitrogen dioxide, water vapour
and a colourless gas are obtained. Nitrogen dioxide and
water vapour dissolve in the water while the colourless
gas gets collected in the gas jar. This gas rekindles a
glowing splint, which proves it to be oxygen.
 Acidic nature
Nitric acid is a strong monobasic acid. It ionizes in water.
 Uses of Nitric acid
 HNO3 is used in the manufacture of chemicals such as
fertilisers and explosives, food products, beverages, metal
products, in surface treatment and pH-regulation agents.
 It is also a component in laboratory chemicals and in
cleaning/washing agents
 Sulfuric Acid

 Manufacturing
 Properties
-chemical properties
-physical properties
 Uses
 Manufacturing of sulfuric acid

 H2SO4 is made as a by-product of other operations or

directly from elemental sulphur, spent (contaminated and
diluted) H2SO4, and hydrogen sulphide. Elemental sulphur
is by far the most widely used raw material. Concentrated
H2SO4 is ca 96-98 % (w/w)
 Properties of sulfuric acid
Physical properties
 H2SO4 is a colorless or slightly yellow viscous liquid with a
pungent odor. It has a density of 1.84 g/mL, boiling point of
337 °C, and melting point of 10 °C. "Concentrated" sulfuric
acid is 98% in water, and is the most stable form.
 Many other concentrations, with different names, are
available for various purposes. Battery acid is 29–32%,
chamber acid is 62-70%, and tower acid is 78-80%.
Chemical properties
 Sulfuric acid is a very strong, diprotic acid. It is hygroscopic
and readily absorbs moisture from air. It is a powerful
oxidizing agent and reacts with many metals at high
temperatures. Concentrated H2SO4 is also a strong
dehydrating agent.
 Addition of water to concentrated sulfuric acid is a very
exothermic reaction and can lead to explosions.
 Uses of Sulfuric Acid
 Sulfuric acid has many uses in different industries, such as
mineral processing, petroleum refining, fertilizer production,
wastewater processing, etc.
 It is also used in the production of cleaning agents, dyes,
pigments, drugs, detergents, and explosives.
 It is commonly used as the electrolyte in lead-acid batteries.
 Hydrochloric acid

 Manufacturing
 Properties
-chemical properties
-physical properties
 Uses
 Manufacturing of Hydrochloric acid

 HCl is produced in various processes, such as in the

reaction between NaCl and H2SO4, or by direct synthesis
from H2 and Cl2. HCl is also a major by-product in
chemical processes when organic compounds are
synthesised. It is produced in solutions up to 38 % (w/w)
(concentrated grade) equivalent to 12 M (pH -1.1).
 Properties of hydrochloric acid

Physical properties
 Hydrochloric acid is a clear, colorless solution and has a
highly pungent odor. It is available in many different
concentrations in water, thus its exact physical properties
(boiling point, melting point and density) vary accordingly.
 The concentrated grade (fuming hydrochloric acid) is about
38% HCl in water. Industrial-grade HCl is about 30% to
35%, while the commercial grade (muriatic acid) is between
20% and 32%. Household cleaning solutions of HCl are
typically 10% to 12%, but these still need further dilution
before use.
Chemical properties
 HCl is a strong, monoprotic acid, which means it can release
only one H+ ion (proton). Being a strong acid, it gets
completely dissociated in water to give the hydronium and
chloride ions.
 It readily reacts with bases to form chloride salts.
Concentrated HCl dissolves many metals and forms oxidized
metal chlorides and hydrogen gas.
 Dilute HCl can break down or digest many chemical and
biological samples.
 Uses of Hydrochloric acid
 Hydrochloric acid has many industrial uses, such as in the
production of various chlorides, plastics (such as PVC and
polyurethane), fertilizers, and dyes.
 It is also used in the photographic, textile, and rubber
industries, as well as in gelatin production, leather processing
and household cleaning products.
 Phosphorous
 Manufacturing
 Properties
-chemical properties
-physical properties
 Uses
 Manufacturing of Phosphorous

Elemental phosphorus production is by an electrothermal

process and consequently the energy demand is very
high. Each tonne of phosphorus produced requires about 14
MWh. Its manufacture is carried out only where comparatively
cheap energy, such as hydroelectric power, is available. The
main producers are in Kazakhstan, China and the United
States.
 The most important source is fluoroapatite,
3Ca3(PO4)2.CaF2 commonly known as 'phosphate rock'.
Impurities present include calcium and magnesium
carbonates, iron(lll) oxide, aluminium oxide, and silica. It
occurs widely but important sources are in the US (Florida,
North Carolina), Morocco, Tunisia, Russia and China.
 To optimize production efficiency, the feed of phosphate
rock into a furnace needs to be as uniform as possible
 Red phosphorus, unlike white phosphorus, is
not spontaneously flammable, although it is easily ignited.
 It is manufactured from white phosphorus. White
phosphorus is run from its storage tank into a steel pot
where it is kept under a layer of water. A lid, fitted with a
safety pipe, is securely fastened and the pot is heated to
550 K for 3 to 4 days.
 The water escapes as steam through the safety pipe and
phosphorus vapour loss is prevented by a reflux
condensing system
 Properties of Phosphorous
Physical Properties
 White phosphorous is white, waxy solid. It gives off a greenish-
white glow. It glows in the dark, is spontaneously flammable
when exposed to air and is deadly poison It does not dissolve
well in water
 Red phosphorous is a powder which can vary in colour from
orange to purple, due to slight variations in its chemical
structure. It does not dissolve in many liquids
 Black phosphorous, is made under high pressure, looks like
graphite powder and has the ability to conduct electricity.
Chemical Properties
 White phosphorus exhibits the most activity
 Red and black phosphorus are considerably more passive in
chemical reactions
 The oxidation of white phosphorus occurs through a chain
reaction. The oxidation of phosphorus is often accompanied by
chemiluminescence. Chemiluminescence is the emission of
light during a chemical reaction that does not produce
significant quantities of heat.
 Phosphorus combines directly with all halogens
 When heated with metals, phosphorus forms phosphides.
 Uses of Phosphorous
Uses of Phosphorus
 Phosphorus is a vital plant nutrient and its main use – via
phosphate compounds – is in the production of fertilizers.
Just as there are biological carbon and nitrogen cycles,
there is also a phosphorus cycle.
 Phosphorus is used in the manufacture of safety matches
(red phosphorus), pyrotechnics and incendiary shells.
 Phosphorus is also used in steel manufacture and in the
production of phosphor bronze.
 Phosphates are ingredients of some detergents.
 Phosphorus is used to make light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
 Phosphoric acid

 Manufacturing
 Properties
-chemical properties
-physical properties
 Uses
 Manufacturing of Phosphoric acid
 H3PO4 is produced commercially by either the wet process
or the electric furnace process. In the wet process, H3PO4
is produced by reacting H2SO4 with naturally occurring
phosphate rock in a reactor. Reagent grade H3PO4 is
usually 85 % (w/w).
 Properties of Phosphoric acid
Physical properties
 Pure phosphoric acid is a white crystalline solid with
melting point of 42.35° C. When it is less concentrated, it is
a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid with a density of 1.885
g/mL. It is non-toxic and non-volatile.
 The most common phosphoric acid concentration is 85% in
water.
Chemical properties
 Phosphoric acid has three acidic and replaceable H atoms.
Thus, it reacts differently from other mineral acids.
 It can react with bases to form three classes of salts by the
replacement of one, two, or three H atoms, such as
NaH2PO4, Na2HPO4, and Na3PO4, respectively.
 At high temperatures, phosphoric acid molecules can react
together and combine (with loss of water molecule) to form
dimers, trimers, and even long polymeric chains such as
polyphosphoric acids and metaphosphoric acids.
 2 H3PO4 → H4P2O7 (- H2O)
 Uses of Phosphoric acid
 Phosphoric acid has many applications. Due to its non-toxic
and mildly acidic nature, it is used in food flavoring, beverages,
dental products, cosmetics, and skin care products.
 Industrially, it is used mainly in the production of phosphate
fertilizers. It is also widely used as an electrolyte, etching
agent, rust removal agent, pH modifier, household cleaning
agent, dispersing agent and sanitizing agent.