JAMB Chemistry 2022 Paper

Concept:The reaction is the catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide in the Contact Process.Explanation:During the Contact Process, sulfur dioxide gas is converted into sulfur trioxide gas.The reaction is: $\mathrm{SO}_2 + \frac{1}{2}\mathrm{O}_2 \rightarrow \mathrm{SO}_3$.This conversion needs a solid catalyst to speed up the reaction at the operating temperature.The catalyst used industrially is vanadium(V) oxide, $\mathrm{V}_2\mathrm{O}_5$.It provides a surface on which sulfur dioxide and oxygen can react more easily.Other listed oxides are not used as the industrial catalyst for this step.Answer:D. vanadium(V) oxide