Question

The nighttime and daytime temperatures on Mercury are 13 K and 683 K respectively. The melting point and boiling point of sulfur is 246°F and 832°F. Which of the following statements is true? On Mercury sulfur exists

a. only in the liquid state.
b. only in the solid state.
c. as both a liquid and a gas.
d. as both a liquid and a solid

Answer 1

On Mercury, sulfur exists as both a liquid and a solid, due to the planet's temperature range being between sulfur's melting point and boiling point when converted to Kelvin. So the correct option is d.

Step-by-step explanation:

The daytime and nighttime temperatures on Mercury are extreme due to its proximity to the Sun and lack of atmosphere, ranging from 13 K at night to 683 K during the day. When considering the properties of sulfur, whose melting point and boiling point are 246°F and 832°F respectively, we need to convert these temperatures into Kelvin (246°F = 391 K, 832°F = 727 K) to compare them with Mercury's temperature range. As Mercury's nighttime temperature of 13 K is much lower than sulfur's melting point, and its daytime temperature of 683 K is just below sulfur's boiling point, sulfur can exist as both a solid during the night and melt into a liquid during the day, but it does not reach the temperature required to become a gas. Therefore, the correct statement regarding the state of sulfur on Mercury is d. as both a liquid and a solid.

Answer 2

Answer: Option (d) is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Converting Fahrenheit into kelvin as follows.

`(5)/(9) * (^(o)F - 32) + 273.15`

So,
`246^(o)F` will be converted into kelvin as follows.

`(5)/(9) * (246^(o)F - 32) + 273.15`

= 392.039 K

Also,
`832^(o)F` will be converted into kelvin as follows.

`(5)/(9) * (832^(o)F - 32) + 273.15`

= 717.594 K

As 13 K is the temperature at night time. So, it means sulfur will exist as a solid at this time because melting point of sulfur is 392.039 K.

Whereas 683 K is the temperature during day time. Hence, it means sulfur will exist in liquid state because its boiling point is 717.594 K.

Thus, we can conclude that on mercury, sulfur exists as both a liquid and a solid.