2 H2SO4 (aq) + Co (s) → 2 H2O (l) + SO2 (aq) + CoSO4 (aq)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

SVI + 2 e- → SIV (reduction)

Co0 - 2 e- → CoII (oxidation)

H2SO4 is an oxidizing agent, Co is a reducing agent.

Reactants:

  • H2SO4 – Sulfuric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Oil of vitriol source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfuric acid, concentrated (> 51% and < 100%) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, H2SO4 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Odourless colourless oily hygroscopic liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to dark-brown, oily, odorless liquid. [Note: Pure compound is a solid below 51°F. Often used in an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • Co
    • Names: Cobalt source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Cobalt metal dust and fume (as Co) source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Co source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Silver-grey powder source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Odorless, silver-gray to black solid. source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • H2O – Water, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • SO2 – Sulfur dioxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-28source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Sulfurous anhydride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-28source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Sulphur dioxide source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfurous acid anhydride source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-28; Colourless gas or compressed liquefied gas with pungent odour source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless gas with a characteristic, irritating, pungent odor. [Note: A liquid below 14°F. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
  • CoSO4 – Cobalt(II) sulfate source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Cobalt sulfate source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cobalt (2+) sulfate source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cobaltous sulfate source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04
    • Appearance: Reddish crystalline (anhydrous, monohydrate) | pink salt (hexahydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Lavender-to-dark-blue crystals source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04