Question

Name the gas in each of the following :
The gas produced on the reaction of dilute sulphuric acid with a metallic sulphide

Answer 1

Hint: We know that the given reaction is one of the methods of preparation of hydrogen sulphide (${H_2}S$). Hydrogen sulphide is an acidic gas. Some acidic gases are hydrogen chloride, sulphur dioxide. ${H_2}S$ is a highly toxic, colourless, flammable gas, smelling like rotten eggs but in larger amounts it quickly blocks the sense of smell and it is heavier than air.

Complete step by step solution:
Let's take an example of metallic sulphide that is zinc sulphide $ZnS$. When dilute sulphuric acid reacts with zinc sulphide it produces hydrogen sulphide . ${H_2}S$ is colourless liquid at extremely low temperatures or very high pressure. Zinc sulphide is a white substance. Lets see its reaction with dilute sulphuric acid which is as follows,
$ZnS + {H_2}S{O_4} \to ZnS{O_4} + {H_2}S$
Sulphuric acid is also known as “King of chemicals’’ as it is one of the most used chemicals. Sulphuric acid is also used in preparation of halogens, carbon monoxide, hydrogen. It is useful in metallurgy for extraction and picking of metals and used to make soap, detergent, fertilizers and car batteries. On a large scale production of sulphuric acid lead chamber process and contact process are useful.

Note: We have approached this reaction by recalling the reaction of sulphuric acid and method of preparation of ${H_2}S$ gas. In animals and plants endogenous hydrogen sulphide formed primarily from cysteine. To remember the reaction of dilute sulphuric acid with metallic sulphide we should remember its reaction with zinc sulphide. It is also important to know that dilute and concentrated sulphuric acid produces different products with metallic sulphide.