Answered

Sulfur trioxide is a gas that reacts with liquid water to produce aqueous sulfuric acid, or acid rain. What is the equation for this reaction? Note: You do not need to balance the equation.


A$SO _3(g)+ H _2 O (g) \rightarrow H _2 SO _4(g)$
B$SO _3(g)+ H _2 O (l) \rightarrow H _2 SO _4(a q)$
C$H _2 SO _4(g) \rightarrow SO _3(g)+ H _2 O (l)$
D$S _3 O (g) \rightarrow H _2 SO _4(s)+ H _2 O (f)$

Verified Answer :

  • The reaction involves sulfur trioxide gas (\(SO_3(g)\)) reacting with liquid water (\(H_2O(l)\)).
  • The product formed is aqueous sulfuric acid (\(H_2SO_4(aq)\)).
  • Comparing the options, only one matches the specified reactants and products with their correct states of matter.
  • The correct equation is \(\boxed{SO_3(g) + H_2O(l) \rightarrow H_2SO_4(aq)}\).

Explanation

  1. Analyzing the Chemical Reaction

The problem asks us to identify the chemical equation for the reaction between gaseous sulfur trioxide and liquid water to form aqueous sulfuric acid. We are given the reactants, the products, and their respective states of matter. Gaseous sulfur trioxide is represented as \(SO_3(g)\), liquid water is represented as \(H_2O(l)\), and the resulting aqueous sulfuric acid is represented as \(H_2SO_4(aq)\). Chemical reactions are described by equations that specify these components, ensuring that the substances involved and their physical states are correctly identified.

  1. Selecting the Correct Equation

We evaluate the provided options against our analysis:

  • Option 1: \(SO_3(g) + H_2O(g) \rightarrow H_2SO_4(g)\). This option uses gaseous water and produces gaseous sulfuric acid, which does not match our requirements.
  • Option 2: \(SO_3(g) + H_2O(l) \rightarrow H_2SO_4(aq)\). This option correctly identifies the reactants as gaseous sulfur trioxide and liquid water, and the product as aqueous sulfuric acid.
  • Option 3: \(H_2SO_4(g) \rightarrow SO_3(g) + H_2O(l)\). This represents a reverse reaction with incorrect states of matter.
  • Option 4: \(S_3O(g) \rightarrow H_2SO_4(s) + H_2O(f)\). This equation uses an incorrect chemical formula for the reactant and incorrect states for the products.

Thus, the correct equation is \(SO_3(g) + H_2O(l) \rightarrow H_2SO_4(aq)\).

Examples

The reaction between sulfur trioxide and water is a key component in understanding the formation of acid rain. In the atmosphere, sulfur trioxide gas produced from industrial processes or volcanic activity reacts with water vapor or liquid water droplets in clouds to form sulfuric acid, which then falls to the ground as acid rain. Recognizing the correct chemical states in such equations is essential for environmental science, as it helps scientists model how pollutants interact with the natural water cycle to produce acidic precipitation, which can affect soil health and aquatic ecosystems.

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