Final answer:
Vanadium oxide is used as a catalyst in the production of sulfuric acid because it acts as a catalyst for the oxidation of sulfur dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vanadium oxide is used as a catalyst in the production of sulfuric acid because it acts as a catalyst for the oxidation of sulfur dioxide (c). In the Contact Process, sulfur dioxide gas is passed together with air over a solid vanadium(V) oxide catalyst. The vanadium(V) oxide helps increase the rate of the reaction by lowering the activation energy, making the production of sulfuric acid more efficient.