Question

Calcium oxide or quicklime (CaO) is used in steelmaking, cement manufacture, and pollution control. It is prepared by the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate: CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) CO2(g) Calculate the yearly release of CO2 (in kg) to the atmosphere if the annual production of CaO in the United States is 8.6 × 1010 kg.

Answer 1

The yearly release of
`CO_2` into the atmosphere is
`6.73* 10^(10) kg`.

Step-by-step explanation:

`CaCO_3(s)\rightarrow CaO(s) + CO_2(g)`

Annual production of CaO =
`8.6* 10^(10) kg=8.6* 10^(13) g`

Moles of CaO :

`(8.6* 10^(13) g)/(56 g/mol)=1.53* 10^(12) moles`

According to reaction, 1 mole of CaO is produced along with 1 mole of carbon-dioxide.

Then along with
`1.53* 10^(12) moles` of CaO moles of carbon-dioxide moles produced will be:

`(1)/(1)* 1.53* 10^(12) moles=1.53* 10^(12) moles` of carbon-dioxide

Mass of
`1.53* 10^(12)` moles of carbon-dioxide:

`1.53* 10^(12)mol* 44 g/mol=6.73* 10^(13) g =6.73* 10^(10) kg`

The yearly release of
`CO_2` into the atmosphere is
`6.73* 10^(10) kg`.