The gas-phase oxidation of sulfur dioxide by oxygen to form sulfur trioxide is an elementary step in the industrial production of sulfuric acid. The uncatalyzed reaction has an activation energy of 250 kJ mol⁻¹.
A chemical plant explores two independent process modifications.
• Raising the operating temperature from 600 K to 650 K.
• Introducing a vanadium-based catalyst that lowers the activation energy to 180 kJ mol⁻¹.
The frequency factor A and the orientation requirements are assumed to be unchanged by either modification.
(1) Part (a)
(2) Part (b)
(3) Part (c)
(4) Part (d)