Final answer:
The cost of sulfur needed to make one tonne of sulfuric acid is £52 (to the nearest pound).
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the cost of sulfur needed to make one tonne of sulfuric acid, we need to calculate the amount of sulfur required. Sulfuric acid has the molecular formula H₂SO₄, which means it contains 2 hydrogen atoms, 1 sulfur atom, and 4 oxygen atoms. Since the molar mass of sulfur (S) is 32.07 g/mol, to produce 1 tonne (1000 kg) of sulfuric acid, we need:
Mass of sulfur = (1 tonne) * (1000 kg/tonne) * (1 mol H₂SO₄/98.09 g) * (32.07 g S/1 mol H₂SO₄)
Mass of sulfur = 327.86 kg approximately
To calculate the cost, we can use the price given for one tonne of sulfur. The cost of sulfur needed is:
Cost of sulfur = (price of sulfur/tonne) * (mass of sulfur/tonne)
Cost of sulfur = (£160/tonne) * (327.86 kg/1000 kg of sulfur)
Cost of sulfur = £52 (to the nearest pound)