Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Sulfonic Acid

Reviewed by:
ffImage
hightlight icon
highlight icon
highlight icon
share icon
copy icon
SearchIcon

Sulfonic Acid Formula

Sulfonic acid also spelt as sulphonic acid. It is a class of organic acids containing sulfur with a general formula R − S (= O) 2 − OH / RSO3H (sulphonic acid formula).

Here,

R is an organic combining group: alkyl/aryl group 

SO3H  group is a sulfonyl hydroxide

The sulfonic acids are among the most significant of the organosulfur compounds; the free acids are broadly utilized as catalysts in organic synthesis, while the salts and other derivatives structure the premise of the production of cleansers, water-dissolvable dyes and catalysts, sulfonamide pharmaceuticals, and ion-exchange resins.


A sulfonic acid has various properties, real-life applications or uses of SO3H chemical name, and reactions about which we will discuss in detail. 


Sulfonic Acid Structure

[Image will be Uploaded Soon]

The general sulfonic acid structure with the functional group is indicated in blue colour.

Explanation of Sulphonic Acid Structure

The design of sulfonic acids is illustrated by the prototype called methanesulfonic acid. The sulfonic acid gathering,  RSO3H name highlights a tetrahedral sulfur centre, implying that sulfur is at the focal point of four atoms: three oxygens and one carbon. The overall geometry of the sulfur centre is attentive to the state of sulfuric acid.


Sulphonic Acid Preparation

Below is the sulphonic acid structure. Now, we will understand the preparation of 

[Image will be Uploaded Soon]

Sulfonic acids are created by the cycle of sulfonation. Typically the sulfonating specialist is sulfur trioxide. A huge scope use of this technique is the creation of alkyl benzene sulfonic acids: 

RC6H5 + SO3 → RC6H4SO3

In this reaction, sulfur trioxide is an electrophile and the arene goes through electrophilic aromatic substitution. Direct sulfonation likewise changes over methane-sulfonic corrosive to methane-disulfonic acid. 


Numerous alkane sulfonic acids are produced from bisulfite. They are then added to terminal alkenes or are alkylated by alkyl halides, as explained in the following equation:


HSO3 + RCH = CH2 + H+ → RCH2 CH2 SO3

HSO3+ RBr → RSO3H + Br- 


Sulfonic Acids Can be Set up by Oxidation of Thiols: 

RSH + ​3/2 O2 → RSO3

Such a pathway is the premise of the biosynthesis of taurine.


Properties of Sulfonic Acids

Sulfonic acids are strong acids. They are regularly referred to as being around multiple times more grounded than the comparing carboxylic acids.


Sulfonic acids are known to react with strong sodium chloride (salt) to form sodium sulfonate and hydrogen chloride. 


On account of their extremity, sulfonic acids will in general be crystalline solids or viscous, high-boiling liquids. 


They are likewise generally dry and non oxidizing, which makes them reasonable for use as acid catalysts in organic reactions. 


Their extremity, related to their high conjunction, delivers short-chain sulfonic acids water-solvent, while longer-chain ones show cleanser-like properties.


Applications of Sulfonic Acids

  1. Cleansers and Surfactants 

Cleansers and surfactants are atoms that join profoundly nonpolar and exceptionally polar gatherings. Customarily, cleansers are the mainstream surfactants, being gotten from unsaturated fats. 


Since the mid-twentieth century, the use of sulfonic acids has outperformed cleansers in cutting edge social orders. For instance, an expected 2 billion kilograms of alkylbenzene sulfonates are delivered every year for assorted purposes. Lignin sulfonates, created by sulfonation of lignin are segments of penetrating liquids and added substances in specific sorts of concrete. 

  1. Dyes 

Numerous if not a large portion of the anthraquinone dyes are created or prepared by means of sulfonation.


Sulfonic acids will in general tie firmly to proteins and carbs. Generally, "launderable" dyes are sulfonic acids (or have the useful sulfonyl group in them); therefore, p-Cresidine Sulfonic acid is utilized to make food colours. 

  1. Acid Catalysts

Being solid acids, sulfonic acids are likewise utilized as catalysts. The least complex models are methanesulfonic acid, CH3SO2OH, and p-toluenesulfonic acid, which are routinely utilized in natural science as acids that are lipophilic (dissolvable in natural solvents). 


Polymeric sulfonic acids are likewise valuable. Dowex resin is a sulfonic acid derivative of polystyrene and is utilized as catalysts and for ion exchange (water softening). 


Nafion, a fluorinated polymeric sulfonic acid is a segment of proton exchange membrane in fuel cells.

  1. Medications 

Sulfa medications, a class of antibacterials, are created from sulfonic acids.

Sulfonates are the premise of most particle trade gums utilized in water relaxing. 

  1. Lignosulfonates 

In the sulfite process for paper production, lignin is eliminated from the lignocellulose by treating wood chips with arrangements of sulfite and bisulfite particles. These reagents cut the connections between the cellulose and lignin parts and particularly inside the actual lignin. The lignin is changed over to lignosulfonates, helpful ionomers, which are solvent and can be isolated from the cellulose filaments.


Point To Note:

  • As a substituent, sulfonic acid is from a sulfo group. A sulfonic acid can be considered as sulfuric acid with one hydroxyl bunch supplanted by a natural substituent. 

The parent compound having the natural substituent supplanted by hydrogen is the parent sulfonic acid, HS(= O)2 (OH), a tautomer of sulfurous acid, S(= O)(OH)2.

  • Salts/esters of sulfonic acids are called sulfonates.

This page explains the sulphonic acid structure, sulfonic acid uses in detail.

FAQs on Sulfonic Acid

Q1: Describe an Alternative to Sulfonic Acid Preparation.

Ans: Sulphonic acid can be prepared by Hydrolysis routes; let’s understand how:


Numerous sulfonic acids are prepared by hydrolysis of sulfonyl halides and related antecedents. 

In this manner, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid is prepared by hydrolysis of the sulfonyl fluoride, which thus is produced by the electrofluorination of octanesulfonic acid. 


Additionally, the sulfonyl chloride subsidized/derived from polyethylene is hydrolyzed to the sulfonic acid. This is how sulphonic acid is prepared by Hydrolysis of routes.


(These sulfonyl chlorides are created by free - radical reactions of chlorine, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons utilizing the Reed reaction.) 

Q2: Explain Methanesulfonic Acid.

Ans: Methanesulfonic acid (MsOH) or methanesulphonic acid (in British English) is a dismal fluid with the chemical equation CH3SO3H. It is the least complex of the alkyl sulfonic acids. 


Salts and esters of methanesulfonic acid are known as mesylates/ methanesulfonates, as in ethyl methanesulfonates. 


It is hygroscopic in its concentrated structure. Methanesulfonic acid might be viewed as a moderate compound between sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and methylsulfonylmethane ((CH3)2SO2), viably supplanting an – OH group with a – CH3 group at each progression. This example can broaden no further one or the other way without stalling the – SO2– group. 


Methanesulfonic acid can disintegrate a wide scope of metal salts, a considerable lot of them in altogether higher focuses than in hydrochloric or sulfuric acid.