Question

Sulfur and oxygen form both sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. When samples of these were decomposed the sulfur dioxide produced 3.49g oxygen and 3.50g sulfur, while the sulfur trioxide produced 9.00g oxygen and 6.00g 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 in sulfur dioxide is 0.997

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

Step-by-step explanation:

• For A:

We are given:

Mass of oxygen in sulfur dioxide = 3.49 grams

Mass of sulfur in sulfur dioxide = 3.50 grams

So,
`\frac{\text{Mass of oxygen}}{\text{Mass of sulfur}}=(3.49g)/(3.50g)=0.997`

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

• For B:

We are given:

Mass of oxygen in sulfur trioxide = 9.00 grams

Mass of sulfur in sulfur trioxide = 6.00 grams

So,
`\frac{\text{Mass of oxygen}}{\text{Mass of sulfur}}=(9.00g)/(6.00g)=1.5`

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

Answer 2

a. 0.997

b. 1.5

Step-by-step explanation:

Hello, considering the decomposition chemical reactions:

a.
`SO_2-->S+O_2`

b.
`SO_3-->S+(3)/(2) O_2`

The produced amounts are enough to know the required proportion, thus:

a. For this case, it is simple as long as the stoichiometric coefficients are 1 for all the involved species in the chemical reaction, thus:

`(mO)/(mS) _(SO_2)=(3.49g)/(3.5g)=0.997\\`

b. In this case, it is not a problem that the stoichiometric coefficient for oxygen is 3/2 yet the amounts remain the same, thus, the ratio:

`(mO)/(mS) _(SO_3)=(9g)/(6g)=1.5\\`

Best regards.