How would you balance: S8 + O2 --> SO3?

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Answer 1 · 2018-05-09T07:50:14

Stoichiometrically...garbage in equals garbage out....

#S_8(s) +12O_2(g) rarr 8SO_3#

To make this a little easier we could use fractional coefficients...

#1/8S_8(s) + 3/2O_2 rarr SO_3(g)#

Industrially, this is performed by the #"contact process"#. Sulfur is burned in air...

#1/8S_8(g) + O_2(g) rarr SO_2(g)#

And then this is further oxidized to #SO_3# by means of a vanadium pentoxide catalyst...

#SO_2(g) +1/2O_2(g)stackrel(V_2O_5)rarrSO_3(g)#

This must be a very dirty, nasty, and smelly process. It is undoubtedly necessary to perform this reaction to produce an industrial feedstock.