Question

Sulfur and oxygen form both sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. When samples of these are decomposed, the sulfur dioxide produces 3.46 g oxygen and 3.47 g sulfur, while the sulfur trioxide produces 8.25 g oxygen and 5.50 g sulfur. A) Calculate the mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur for sulfur dioxide.

B) Calculate the mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur for sulfur trioxide.

Answer 1

For A: The mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur for sulfur dioxide is 0.997 g

For B: The mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur for sulfur trioxide is 1.5 g

Step-by-step explanation:

• For A:

The chemical equation for decomposition of sulfur dioxide follows:

`SO_2\rigtarrow S+O_2`

We are given:

Mass of sulfur = 3.47 g

Mass of oxygen = 3.46 g

To calculate the mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur, we apply unitary method:

For every 3.47 g of sulfur, 3.46 g of oxygen will form.

So, for 1 gram of sulfur,
`(3.46g)/(3.47g)* 1g=0.997g` of oxygen will form.

Hence, the mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur for sulfur dioxide is 0.997 g

• For B:

The chemical equation for decomposition of sulfur trioxide follows:

`2SO_3\rigtarrow 2S+3O_2`

We are given:

Mass of sulfur = 5.50 g

Mass of oxygen = 8.25 g

To calculate the mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur, we apply unitary method:

For every 5.50 g of sulfur, 8.25 g of oxygen will form.

So, for 1 gram of sulfur,
`(8.25g)/(5.50g)* 1g=1.5g` of oxygen will form.

Hence, the mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur for sulfur trioxide is 1.5 g