Question

Toluene (C7H8) and nitric acid (HNO3) are used in the production of trinitrotoluene (TNT, C7H5N3O6), an explosive. C7H8 + HNO3 => C7H5N3O6 + H2O (not balanced) (a) what mass in grams of nitric acid is required to react with 454 g C7H8 (b) what mass in grams of TNT can be made from 829 g C7H8 ?

Answer 1

The mass in grams of nitric acid that is required to react with 454g C7H8 is 932.72 grams

calculation
find the moles of C7H8 used
moles = mass/molar mass

= 454 g/92 = 4.935 moles

balanced reacting equation

C7H8 +3 HNO3 = C7H5N3O6 +3 H20
by use of mole ratio between C7H8 to HNo3 which is 1:3 the moles of HNO3 =4.935 x3 = 14.805 moles

mass of HNo3 = moles x molar mass
= 14.805 x 63 = 932.72 grams

part B

the mass of C7H5N3o6 = 2045.5 grams

calculate the moles of C7H8
= 829 g/92 g/mol = 9.011 moles

by use of mole ratio between C7H8 to C7H5N3O6 which is 1:1 the moles of C7H5N3O6 is also = 9.011 moles

mass of C7H5N3O6 is therefore = moles x molar mass

=9.011 x227 = 2045.5 grams