MnO2 and H2SO4?

Question

Why MnO2 and H2SO4 is used to prepare halogens?

When we produce any halogen we follow the reacton:
2NaX+3H2SO4+MnO2=2NaHSO4+MnS+2H2O+X2.
My question,Why H2SO4 and MnO2 is used?

Answer 1

You can oxidize your sodium salt, because manganese oxide (IV) i an excellent oxidizer in acid medium. If your salt is a halide, like NaCl or NaI or NaBr, you will see halogen appear. With NaF it will not work, and please, don't try it. You would produce HF and that is not a good idea. It gets into your bones (litteraly).

But if you use common salt (NaCl) you don't even need your MnO2 to have an itching nose experience. If you have concentrated H2SO4, you will be able to produce HCl with it. Because HCl is more volatile than H2SO4. It only works with concentrated sulphuric acid.

A better way to produce chlorine gas, is to use HCL solutions and MnO2. And The best way, is to use HCl and sodium chlorate, that is on itself a strong oxidant.

Even chlorine bleach water will do, even with simple vinegar: by adding acid (H+) you reverse the reaction of making bleach water in basic media:

Cl2 + 2 OH- <> ClO- + Cl- + H2O

Actually, Chlorine (Cl2) is unstable in basic environments, and it converts to ClO- and Cl- but there is no netto redox involved.

one last remark: chlorine is not healty, it attacks your mucosa.

Answer 2

MnO2+H2SO4=

Answer 3

No idea why they would be used to make halogens. However if you mix the two I would expect that you will get water H20 and MnSO3

Answer 4

Your question makes no sense. Where do the halogens come in? What are you talking about?

Answer 5

They are both very good oxidizing agents which is necessary to produce halogens.