Question

The equivalent weight of sulphuric acid is?

Answer 1

Hint- In order to find the equivalent weight of a given compound we will use the formula of equivalent weight as it is the ratio of molecular mass to the number of replaceable hydrogen. By the use of general formula and the atomic masses of elements from the periodic table we will solve this problem.

Complete answer:
Formula used- ${\text{Equivalent weight}} = \dfrac{{{\text{Molecular mass}}}}{{{\text{Number of replaceable H}}}}$
The molecular formula of sulphuric acid is ${H_2}S{O_4}$
As we know the atomic mass of hydrogen, sulphur and oxygen from the periodic table is:
$H = 1u,S = 32u\& O = 16u$
So using the above atomic mass the molecular mass of ${H_2}S{O_4}$is :
$
   = \left( {2 \times {\text{Atomic mass of }}H} \right) + \left( {1 \times {\text{Atomic mass of }}S} \right) + \left( {4 \times {\text{Atomic mass of }}O} \right) \\
   = \left( {2 \times 1u} \right) + \left( {1 \times 32u} \right) + \left( {4 \times 16u} \right) \\
   = 2u + 32u + 64u \\
   = 98u \\
 $
We know the expression for the equivalent weight of an acid is as given as
${\text{Equivalent weight}} = \dfrac{{{\text{Molecular mass}}}}{{{\text{Number of replaceable H}}}}$
Sulphuric acid contains two replaceable hydrogen.
Substitute values in the above expression, we get
${\text{Equivalent weight}} = \dfrac{{98u}}{2} = 49u$

Hence, the equivalent weight of sulphuric acid is 49u.

Additional information- A reactive polymer's equivalent weight is the polymer's mass which has one reactivity derivative (often the polymer mass corresponding to one mole of reactive side-chain groups). It is widely used to indicate the reactivity of polyol, isocyanate, or epoxy thermoset resins that, through these functional groups, would undergo crosslinking reactions.
For ion-share polymers (also called ion-exchange resins) it is especially important: one version of an ion-exchange polymer can share one mole of single charged ions, but just half a mole of doubly charged ions.

Note- Equivalents weight is the weight of the one equivalent which is the weight of a given substance and combines with or displaces a fixed quantity of another. An element's equivalent weight is the mass which combines or displaces 1.008 grams of hydrogen. The primary application of sulfuric acid is in fertilizer processing , e.g., lime superphosphate and ammonium sulfate. It is widely used in the manufacture of chemicals and other acids as well.