Sulfur trioxide

Sulfur trioxide (alternative spelling sulphur trioxide) is the chemical compound with the formula SO3, with a relatively narrow liquid range. In the gaseous form, this species is a significant pollutant, being the primary agent in acid rain.[4]

This article is about the molecule SO
3. For the ion SO2−
3, see Sulfite.
Sulfur trioxide
Structure and dimensions of sulfur trioxide
Space-filling model of sulfur trioxide
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Sulfur trioxide
Systematic IUPAC name
Sulfonylideneoxidane
Other names
Sulfuric anhydride, Sulfur(VI) oxide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.028.361
EC Number
  • 231-197-3
1448
RTECS number
  • WT4830000
UNII
UN number UN 1829
Properties
SO3
Molar mass 80.066 g/mol
Appearance Colorless to white crystalline solid which will fume in air.[1] Colorless liquid and gas.[2]
Odor Varies. Vapor is pungent; like sulfur dioxide.[3] Mist is odorless.[2]
Density 1.92 g/cm3, liquid
Melting point 16.9 °C (62.4 °F; 290.0 K)
Boiling point 45 °C (113 °F; 318 K)
Reacts to give sulfuric acid
Thermochemistry
256.77 J K−1 mol−1
Std enthalpy of
formation (ΔfH⦵298)
 −395.7 kJ/mol
Hazards
Main hazards C T O N
Safety data sheet ICSC 1202
GHS pictograms
GHS Signal word Danger
GHS hazard statements
 H250, H314, H310, H300, H335
P261, P270, P280, P305+351+338, P310
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
rat, 4 hr 375 mg/m3
Related compounds
Other cations
 Selenium trioxide
Tellurium trioxide
Related sulfur oxides
 Sulfur monoxide
Sulfur dioxide
Related compounds
 Sulfuric acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

It is prepared on an industrial scale as a precursor to sulfuric acid, and is also known as sulfuric anhydride.

In perfectly dry apparatus, sulfur trioxide vapor is invisible, and the liquid is transparent. However, it fumes profusely even in a relatively dry atmosphere (it has been used as a smoke agent) due to formation of a sulfuric acid mist. This vapor has no odor but is extremely corrosive.[2]

Molecular structure and bonding

Gaseous SO3 is a trigonal planar molecule of D3h symmetry, as predicted by VSEPR theory. SO3 belongs to the D3h point group.

In terms of electron-counting formalism, the sulfur atom has an oxidation state of +6 and a formal charge of 0. The Lewis structure consists of an S=O double bond and two S–O dative bonds without utilizing d-orbitals.[5]

The electrical dipole moment of gaseous sulfur trioxide is zero. This is a consequence of the 120° angle between the S-O bonds.

Chemical reactions

SO3 is the anhydride of H2SO4. Thus, the following reaction occurs:

SO3 (g) + H2O (l) → H2SO4 (aq) (ΔHf = −200 kJ mol−1)[6]

The reaction occurs both rapidly and exothermically, too violently to be used in large-scale manufacturing. At or above 340 °C, sulfuric acid, sulfur trioxide, and water coexist in significant equilibrium concentrations.

Sulfur trioxide also oxidizes sulfur dichloride to yield the useful reagent, thionyl chloride.

SO3 + SCl2 → SOCl2 + SO2

SO3 is a strong Lewis acid readily forming crystalline complexes with pyridine, dioxane, and trimethylamine. These adducts can be used as sulfonating agents.[7]

Preparation

In the atmosphere

The direct oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide in air:

SO2 + ½O2 = SO3  ΔH=-198.4

does take place, but at 298 K has a ΔG = -141.6 kJ and ΔS = -187.9 J/K, so the reaction proceeds very slowly.

In the laboratory

Sulfur trioxide can be prepared in the laboratory by the two-stage pyrolysis of sodium bisulfate. Sodium pyrosulfate is an intermediate product:[8]

  1. Dehydration at 315 °C:
    2 NaHSO4 → Na2S2O7 + H2O
  2. Cracking at 460 °C:
    Na2S2O7 → Na2SO4 + SO3

In contrast, KHSO4 does not undergo the same reaction.[8]

In industry

Industrially SO3 is made by the contact process. Sulfur dioxide, which in turn is produced by the burning of sulfur or iron pyrite (a sulfide ore of iron). After being purified by electrostatic precipitation, the SO2 is then oxidised by atmospheric oxygen at between 400 and 600 °C over a catalyst. A typical catalyst consists of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) activated with potassium oxide K2O on kieselguhr or silica support. Platinum also works very well but is too expensive and is poisoned (rendered ineffective) much more easily by impurities.[9]

The majority of sulfur trioxide made in this way is converted into sulfuric acid not by the direct addition of water, with which it forms a fine mist, but by absorption in concentrated sulfuric acid and dilution with water of the produced oleum.

Main article: calcium sulfate § other uses

It was once produced industrially by heating calcium sulfate with silica.

Applications

Sulfur trioxide is an essential reagent in sulfonation reactions. These processes afford detergents, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Sulfur trioxide is generated in situ from sulfuric acid or is used as a solution in the acid.

Structure of solid SO3
Ball-and-stick model of the γ-SO3 molecule

The nature of solid SO3 is complex because structural changes are caused by traces of water.[10]

Upon condensation of the gas, absolutely pure SO3 condenses into a trimer, which is often called γ-SO3. This molecular form is a colorless solid with a melting point of 16.8 °C. It adopts a cyclic structure described as [S(=O)2(μ-O)]3.[11]

If SO3 is condensed above 27 °C, then α-SO3 forms, which has a melting point of 62.3 °C. α-SO3 is fibrous in appearance. Structurally, it is the polymer [S(=O)2(μ-O)]n. Each end of the polymer is terminated with OH groups. β-SO3, like the alpha form, is fibrous but of different molecular weight, consisting of an hydroxyl-capped polymer, but melts at 32.5 °C. Both the gamma and the beta forms are metastable, eventually converting to the stable alpha form if left standing for sufficient time. This conversion is caused by traces of water.[12]

Relative vapor pressures of solid SO3 are alpha < beta < gamma at identical temperatures, indicative of their relative molecular weights. Liquid sulfur trioxide has a vapor pressure consistent with the gamma form. Thus heating a crystal of α-SO3 to its melting point results in a sudden increase in vapor pressure, which can be forceful enough to shatter a glass vessel in which it is heated. This effect is known as the "alpha explosion".[12]

SO3 is aggressively hygroscopic. The heat of hydration is sufficient that mixtures of SO3 and wood or cotton can ignite. In such cases, SO3 dehydrates these carbohydrates.[12]

Safety

Along with being a strong oxidizing agent, sulfur trioxide will cause serious burns on both inhalation and ingestion because it is highly corrosive and hygroscopic in nature. SO3 should be handled with extreme care as it reacts violently with water and produces highly corrosive sulfuric acid. It should also be kept away from organic material due to the strong dehydrating nature of sulfur trioxide and its ability to react violently with such materials.

Sources
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See also

References
  1. "SULFUR TRIOXIDE CAMEO Chemicals NOAA". Cameochemicals.noaa.gov.
  2. Lerner, L. (2011). Small-Scale Synthesis of Laboratory Reagents with Reaction Modeling. CRC Press. p. 10. ISBN 9781439813133. LCCN 2010038460.
  3. "Substance:Sulfur trioxide - Learn Chemistry Wiki". Rsc.org.
  4. Thomas Loerting; Klaus R. Liedl (2000). "Toward elimination of descrepancies between theory and experiment: The rate constant of the atmospheric conversion of SO3 to H2SO4". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 97 (16): 8874–8878. Bibcode:2000PNAS...97.8874L. doi:10.1073/pnas.97.16.8874. PMC 16788. PMID 10922048.
  5. Terence P. Cunningham , David L. Cooper , Joseph Gerratt, Peter B. Karadakov and Mario Raimondi (1997). "Chemical bonding in oxofluorides of hypercoordinate sulfur". Journal of the Chemical Society, Faraday Transactions. 93 (13): 2247–2254. doi:10.1039/A700708F.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "The Manufacture of Sulfuric Acid and Superphosphate" (PDF). Chemical Processes in New Zealand.
  7. Cotton, F. Albert; Wilkinson, Geoffrey; Murillo, Carlos A.; Bochmann, Manfred (1999), Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (6th ed.), New York: Wiley-Interscience, ISBN 0-471-19957-5
  8. K.J. de Vries; P.J. Gellings (May 1969). "The thermal decomposition of potassium and sodium-pyrosulfate". Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry. 31 (5): 1307–1313. doi:10.1016/0022-1902(69)80241-1.
  9. Hermann Müller "Sulfuric Acid and Sulfur Trioxide" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. 2000 doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_635
  10. Holleman, Arnold Frederik; Wiberg, Egon (2001), Wiberg, Nils (ed.), Inorganic Chemistry, translated by Eagleson, Mary; Brewer, William, San Diego/Berlin: Academic Press/De Gruyter, ISBN 0-12-352651-5
  11. Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
  12. Merck Index of Chemicals and Drugs, 9th ed. monograph 8775
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