Answer:
315 kg
Step-by-step explanation:
If the ore is 65% waste material, then the mass of the actual sodium in 1 tonne of ore is:
mass of sodium = 0.35 x 1000 kg = 350 kg
The process of electrolysis separates the sodium from the other components of the ore. The amount of sodium extracted will depend on the efficiency of the electrolysis process, which is typically measured by its Faraday efficiency.
The Faraday efficiency is the ratio of the amount of substance actually produced by electrolysis to the amount predicted by the theoretical stoichiometry of the reaction. For the electrolysis of sodium, the theoretical stoichiometry is:
2 Na+ + 2 e- → 2 Na
This reaction requires 2 moles of electrons (2 Faradays) to produce 2 moles of sodium.
If we assume a Faraday efficiency of 90%, this means that 90% of the theoretical amount of sodium is actually produced by electrolysis. Therefore, the mass of sodium extracted from 1 tonne of ore would be:
mass of sodium extracted = 0.9 x (2/2) x 350 kg = 315 kg
So, the company would extract 315 kg of sodium from 1 tonne of ore that is 65% waste material, assuming a Faraday efficiency of 90%.