H2SO4 is used to remove rust on the surface of iron (picking) before electroplating. The type of reaction involved is
Answer Details
The type of reaction involved when using H2SO4 to remove rust on the surface of iron is a redox reaction. This is because the sulfuric acid oxidizes the iron in the rust, converting it into iron(II) sulfate, while the acid itself is reduced to sulfur dioxide. The overall reaction can be written as follows:
Fe2O3(s) + 3H2SO4(aq) → Fe2(SO4)3(aq) + 3H2O(l)
In this reaction, the iron in Fe2O3 is oxidized from a +3 to a +2 oxidation state, while the sulfur in H2SO4 is reduced from a +6 to a +4 oxidation state. This transfer of electrons between the reactants is what defines a redox reaction.