Question

Silicon carbide, SiC (m.w. = 40.10 g/mol), is used as an abrasive for many industrial processes. If you want to produce 1.00 kg of silicon carbide from the reaction of SiO2 (m.w. = 60.08 g/mol) and carbon (m.w. = 12.011 g/mol), what is the minimum amount of SiO2 that is needed?SiO2(s) + 3C(s) → SiC(s) + 2CO(g)

Answer 1

It is needed 1498.25 g of SiO2.

- From the chemical equation, we know that to produce 40.10 g of SiC, it is needed 60.08 g of SiO2 and 36.033 g of C (because in the reaction there are 3 moles of C).

- Calculating we obtain that:

`\frac{1000\text{ . 60.08 }}{40.10}=1498.25\text{ g}`

So, it is needed 1498.25 g of SiO2. This can be expressed as 1.50x10^3 g.