What is the Difference Between Oleum and Sulfuric Acid?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between oleum and sulfuric acid lies in their composition and properties.
Oleum:
- Also known as fuming sulfuric acid, it is a solution of sulfur trioxide (SO3) in sulfuric acid.
- The chemical formula for oleum is ySO3·H2O, where y represents the total molar content of sulfur trioxide.
- Oleum is an oily, colored, or cloudy liquid due to the presence of impurities.
- It generates strong fumes when exposed to air and is diluted with considerable heat generation when in contact with water.
- Oleum is generally less corrosive to metals than sulfuric acid because there is no free water to attack surfaces.
Sulfuric Acid:
- An inorganic acid, it is produced by the contact process from elementary sulfur.
- Sulfuric acid is an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid and has a strong acidic nature.
- It is a clear, oily, colorless to slightly clouded liquid that is well miscible with water.
- Sulfuric acid is hygroscopic and has corrosive effects, carbonizing most organic substances.
- It is widely used in various applications, such as fertilizer production, oil refining, wastewater processing, and chemical synthesis.
In summary, oleum is a solution of sulfur trioxide in sulfuric acid, while sulfuric acid is a standalone inorganic acid. Oleum has a more complex composition and is generally less corrosive than sulfuric acid.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Oleum and Sulfuric Acid? Comparative Table: Oleum vs Sulfuric Acid
Comparative Table: Oleum vs Sulfuric Acid
Here is a table comparing the differences between oleum and sulfuric acid:
Property | Oleum | Sulfuric Acid |
---|---|---|
Definition | Oleum is a mixture of sulfuric acid with up to 80% free sulfur trioxide, also known as "fuming sulfuric acid" | Sulfuric acid is a highly water-soluble, hygroscopic, and strong acidic compound with the molecular formula H2SO4 |
Chemical Formula | ySO3.H2O, where "y" represents the total molar content of sulfur trioxide | H2SO4 |
Molar Mass | Varies depending on the concentration of sulfur trioxide | 98.07 g/mol |
Boiling Point | Varies depending on the concentration of sulfur trioxide | 337°C (639°F) |
Melting Point | Varies depending on the concentration of sulfur trioxide | 10°C (50°F) for pure sulfuric acid |
Concentration | 10% oleum can also be expressed as H2SO4.0.13611SO3, 1.13611SO3.H2O, or 102.25% sulfuric acid | Less concentrated sulfuric acid is sometimes erroneously called "oleum" |
Applications | Oleum is an important intermediate in the manufacture of sulfuric acid due to its high enthalpy of hydration | Sulfuric acid is used in a wide range of applications, such as fertilizer production, oil refining, wastewater processing, and chemical synthesis |
The key difference between oleum and sulfuric acid lies in the concentration of sulfur trioxide in the compound. Oleum is a mixture of sulfuric acid with up to 80% free sulfur trioxide, while sulfuric acid itself contains sulfur trioxide in a less concentrated form.
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