Final answer:
The equivalent weight of H2SO4 in a reaction typically refers to the mass that would react with 1 gram equivalent of hydrogen, which depends on the number of protons it donates. For diprotic acids like H2SO4, it is the molecular weight divided by 2. The given reaction may contain an error as it does not align with standard chemical processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equivalent weight of a compound in a given reaction is the mass of the compound that combines with or displaces 1 gram equivalent of hydrogen or 8 grams of oxygen or 35.5 grams of chlorine and so on. In the reaction H2SO4 reacting with NaI to produce Na2SO4, I2, H2S, and H2O, we must look at how many equivalents of protons (H+) are involved in the reaction to determine the equivalent weight of H2SO4.
However, it should be noted, the given reaction does not proceed by any known mechanism in standard conditions, suggesting a potential error in the question. Under more typical reactions, such as H2SO4 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) → Na2SO4 (aq) + 2H2O(l), sulfuric acid is a diprotic acid which means it can donate two moles of protons per mole of H2SO4. Therefore, the equivalent weight in such a case would be the molecular weight of H2SO4 divided by 2.