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I'd like to know the physical mechanism of oleum "fuming" on its surface. Dissolved SO3 reacts very exothermically with some air humidity. Why does the mist occur instead of dissolving created H2SO4 in the solution?
Why does the mist occur instead of dissolving created H2SO4 in the solution?
You've pretty much answered your own question here.SO3 reacts very exothermically with some air humidity
No, that is too simplified.You've pretty much answered your own question here.
Cp(H2SO4, liq) ~ 60 J/molK, and the enthalpy of the reaction between SO3 and water vapor at the surface is around 160 kJ/mol. Fume? You betcha --- that's the old "acid to water, never water to acid" rule from HS chemistry.Or sulfuric acid with (~300°C, p(atm)) boiling point?
That makes me more sense, thank you.My bet is that the concentration (partial pressure) of SO3 above oleum is high enough to start condensation in the presence of water vapor. That will happen above the surface, in the gas phase.
When water putted into acid or conversely acid putted into water, the liquid may spit around due to gas expansion, as I see. Also that is different physical process than oleum fuming.Fume? You betcha --- that's the old "acid to water, never water to acid" rule from HS chemistry.