Does a reaction happen when combining H2SO4 and ammonium sulphate?

Question

this one is stumping me. This is the net ionic equation I have so far but I’m not confident in it.

2H+(aq) + 2SO4^2-(aq)—-> (NH4)2S2O8 (s) + H2 (g)

Is there even a reaction between the two? If so, what is the net ionic equation?

Answer 1

I would say that nothing happens. Sulfuric acid reacts with ammonia to yield ammonium sulfate. That's the type of reaction you should know (ammonia acts like a base by synthesis and formation of ammonium salt). You could conceivably electrolyze a mixture of conc. sulfuric acid and ammonium sulfate in order to get persulfate ion, but that's not likely except in an inorganic chemistry class.

Take care,