An alien wants to eat some Na_2CO_3 but it knows that this compound will cause g

Question

An alien wants to eat some Na_2CO_3 but it knows that this compound will cause gassiness. This is due to having H_2SO_4 in the alien's stomach that will produce CO_2 gas When reacted with Na_2CO_3. The condition inside of the alien's stomach is298.15K, 1 atm and 1L in volume when empty. The reaction that will occur in the alien's stomach apon consuming Na_2CO_3 can be seen below. Na_2CO_3(s) + H-2SO_4(1) rightarrow Na_2 SO_4(s) + H_2CO_3(s) rightarrow H_2O(1) + CO_2(g) How much Na_2CO_3 in grams Did the alien Eat if the volume of its Stomach increases by 500 mL? The alien's weight is 15 kg and its stomach can only hold about 0.05% of its body weight. Will the alien be able to eat 5 grams of Na_2CO_3? Would the alien be able to can more or less if the alien burped and lowered the pressure in its stomach? Would the alien be able to eat more or less if it decided to take a show and lower its entire body temperature by 15K? When it is nonsense to use centigrade temperature in ideal gas Law? What are the isotopes? Where is most of the mass of an atom?

Explanation / Answer

1.

Na2CO3 + H2SO4 -> Na2SO4 + H2O + CO2

V = 500 mL = 0.5L

one mole of gas at STP occupies 22.4L.

so 0.5 L corrsponds to 0.022 moles of CO2

0.022 moles of CO2 is produced by 0.022 moles of Na2CO3 which corresponds to 0.022 mole x 105.98 g/mol = 2.33 g of Na2CO3

2. Weight of the alien is 15 kg, so 0.05% corresponds to 0.75 kg.

5g of sodium carbonate correponds to 0.047 mole, which produces 0.047 moles of CO2, which corresponds to 2.068 g.

0.047 moles ie equal to 1.058 L , which is slightly excess than the volume of the stomach (1L)

3. If the alien burped, the pressure is reduced and the volume increases and hence the capacity of the alien's stomach increases. ( Boyle' law (PV=constant)).

4. If he reduces the temperature the volume also reduces (Charles law :V/T= constant), so alien's capacity to eat will reduce.

5. In all our equations we are using a form of inert gas equation (PV = nRT), which is a combination of Boyle's law and Charles law. The relation between V and T is given by Charles law. In this scale we use temperature in Kelvin scale and hence we cannot use degree celsius for our calclutions using inert gas equation

6. Atoms have same atomic number but different mass number are called isotopes. eg:1H, 2H, 3H

7. Most of the mass of an atom resides in the nuclues of the atom.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.