Question

A power plant burns 220.0 metric tons of coal that contains 2.50 % (by mass) sulfur. The sulfur is converted to SO2 during combustion. How many metric tons of SO2 are produced? blank.png _____ metric tons When SO2 escapes into the atmosphere it may combine with O2 and H2O, forming sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as the only product. Write a balanced equation describing this reaction - you may ignore the states of matter.​How many metric tons of sulfuric acid, a component of acid rain, could be produced from the quantity of SO2 calculated in Part 1? blank.png _______metric tons (its not 5.5 and 9.29)

Answer 1

220 tons coal x 2.5/100 = 5.5 tons sulfur.

sulfur dioxide is SO2

the atomic weight of sulfur is 32, and the atomic weight of oxygen is 16. Therefore SO2 is two times heavier than S, so it will make 5.5 x 2 tons = 11 tons Sulfur dioxide.

When SO2 escapes into the atmosphere it may combine with O2 and H2O, forming sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as the only product. a balanced equation describing this reaction is

2 SO2(g) + O2(g) + 2 H2O(l) - - - - > 2 H2SO4(aq)

64 tons of SO2 required to produce 98 tons of H2SO4

H2SO4 produced

= 98 tons of H2SO4 x 11 tons of SO2 / 64 tons of SO2

= 16.84375 tons of H2SO4 could be produced.