Question

Nitric acid (specific gravity 1.42) costs $51.95 per liter. A student spills 5.112 kg of nitric acid in the laboratory, what is the cost of the nitric acid wasted?

Answer 1

The cost of wasted nitric acid is $187.02

Explanation:

Since it is given that specific gravity of Nitric Acid is 1.42 Thus the density of nitric acid is

`\rho _(acid)=S.G* \rho _(water)\\\\\\\rho_(acid)=1.42* 1(g)/(cm^3)\\\\\rho_(acid)=1.42g/cm^3`

Now from the basic relation of mass volume and density we have

`\rho =(Mass)/(Volume)\\\\\therefore Volume=(Mass)/(\rho )`

Since the mass of the nitric acid is given to be 5.112 kg = 5112 grams

Thus the volume of nitric acid is

`Volume=(5112)/(1.42)=3600cm^3`

Now we know that 1000 cubic centimeters euals 1 litrer

Thus the calculated volume in liters is

`V_(liters)=(3600)/(1000)=3.6Liters`

Thus the cost of acid spilled equals

`Cost=3.6* 51.95=187.02`