Question

Calculate the mass of sulphur dioxide gas produced when one tonne (1000 kg) of coal burns in air, given the following information?

a) Coal contains 3% by mass of sulphur
b) All the sulphur in the coal is converted to sulphur dioxide gas by reaction with oxygen in the air.

How do I figure this out? Thanks.

Answer 1

Well, the question states that there is `3%` BY MASS sulfur content in the coal....

Explanation:

And therefore, there are `1000*kgxx3%=30*kg` of sulfur to burn...according to the stoichiometry....

`S(s) + O_2(g) rarr SO_2(g)`

`"Moles of sulfur"=(30xx10^3*g)/(32.06*g*mol^-1)=935.75*mol`

Now clearly, given the stoichiometry, we should form an equivalent quantity of sulfur dioxide...a mass of..

`935.75*molxxunderbrace(64.07*g*mol^-1)_"molar mass of sulfur dioxide"=59953.2*g-=60*kg`

....take that atmosphere....