Coal is a fossil fuel made primarily of carbon, but it also contains sulfur amon

Question

Coal is a fossil fuel made primarily of carbon, but it also contains sulfur among other elements.

When carbon, C, burns in air, it reacts with oxygen, O2, to produce carbon dioxide,CO2:

C(s)+O2(g)CO2(g)

When sulfur, S, burns in air, it reacts with oxygen, O2, to produce sulfur dioxide, SO2:

S(s)+O2(g)SO2(g)

In 1986 an electrical power plant in Taylorsville, Georgia, burned 8,376,726 tons of coal, a national record at that time.

Part A

Assuming that the coal was 87.4 % carbon by mass and that combustion was complete, calculate the number of tons of carbon dioxide produced by the plant during the year.

Express your answer numerically in tons.

Part B

Assuming that the coal was 3.10 % sulfur by mass and that combustion was complete, calculate the number of tons of sulfur dioxide produced by the plant during the year.

Express your answer numerically in tons.

Explanation / Answer

In 1986 an electrical power plant in Taylorsville, Georgia, burned 8,376,726 tons of coal, a national record at that time.

Part A Assuming that the coal was 87.4 % carbon by mass and that combustion was complete, calculate the number of tons of carbon dioxide produced by the plant during the year.

87.4/100 x 8,376,726 = 7321258.52 tons

Part B

Assuming that the coal was 3.10 % sulfur by mass and that combustion was complete, calculate the number of tons of sulfur dioxide produced by the plant during the year.

3.10/100 x 8,376,726 = 259678.506 tons

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