Acid rain is generated when sulfur oxide compounds like SO_2 and SO_3 react with

Question

Acid rain is generated when sulfur oxide compounds like SO_2 and SO_3 react with water. Although some of sulfur oxide compounds in the environment come from natural sources, roughly 80% of the sulfur oxides present in the environment are a result of human activity, notably, the combustion of coal that contains sulfur. The annual emissions of sulfur dioxide from burning coal in the United States are approximately 26 million metric tons. (1 metric ton 1000 kg) Use dimensional analysis and percent composition to solve these problems. It is possible to solve the problems using the concept of a mole, but do NOT use moles as part of your solutions. Determine how many grams of sulfur must be in the coal in the US to produce 26 million metric tons of SO_2. How many metric tons of coal must be burned in the UD annually if 26 million metric tons of SO2 is formed? Assume that the coal is 2% sulfur by mass. The US actually burns approximately 860 million metric tons of coal per year. Why is your value in part (b) different from this amount? Explain. How many pounds of SO_2 are released into the atmosphere during the combustion of enough coal to fuel a 100 W light bulb for a year? It takes approximately 715 lbs. of coal to fuel a 100 W lightbulb for a year. Assume that the coal burned is 2% sulfur by mass and that all of the sulfur in the coal reacts to form SO_2. Complete these questions using percent composition and dimensional analysis. Submit your responses in Canvas before the deadline at 11:55 pm on Sunday, February 5, 2017. The link for the submission is found under the information for Friday of this week. Your electronic submission must be a .pdf, doc, jpg or a .png file. Late submissions are not accepted.

Explanation / Answer

For coal forming SO2

(a) 1 mole of S gives 1 mole of SO2

to get 26 x 10^9 kg, S required = 26 x 10^9 kg x 32/64.07

                                                  = 1.30 x 10^13 g

(b) Amount of coal to be burnt

2% S in coal

To get 1.30 x 10^7 metric ton sulfur, coal burnt = 1.30 x 10^7 x 100/2 = 6.5 x 10^8 metric tons

                                                                                                               = 6500 million metric ton

(c) The value is different from actual coal burnt as the sulfur also goes to SO3 and not primarily SO2 when burnt

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