Academic Integrity: tutoring, explanations, and feedback — we don’t complete graded work or submit on a student’s behalf.

A cylinder is filled with pure oxygen. The initial pressure is 1 Atm and the tem

ID: 540090 • Letter: A

Question

A cylinder is filled with pure oxygen. The initial pressure is 1 Atm and the temperature is OoC. Initially, the volume of the gas is 0.500 liter.

The cylinder contains a small piece of solid red phosphorus. It is ignited and burns completely to form a white solid powder (P2O5). The difference in volume between the two solids can be neglected.

After cooling down to initial pressure and temperature, the volume of the gas is found to be reduced to 0.47 liter.
What was the mass of the phosphorus in milligrams?  

Hint: First write a balanced reaction equation involving P, oxygen and the oxide.
Then use the "n" in the gas law to find what the volume change V corresponds to.
Atomic mass for P: 31 g/mol
(Answer within 1% of correct value)

Explanation / Answer

4P(s) + 5O2(g) ---> 2P2O5(s)

4 mol P = 5 mol O2

before reaction.

no of mol of O2 = n = PV/RT

                       = (1*0.5/(0.0821*273.15)

                       = 0.0223 mol

After the reaction,

no of mol of O2 = n = PV/RT

                       = (1*0.47/(0.0821*273.15)

                       = 0.02096 mol

no of mol of O2 reacted = 0.0223 - 0.0209 = 0.0014 mol

no of mol of P reacted = 0.0014*4/5 = 0.00112 mol

amount of P reacted = 0.00112*31 = 0.03472 g

            = 34.72 mg

Hire Me For All Your Tutoring Needs
Integrity-first tutoring: clear explanations, guidance, and feedback.
Drop an Email at
drjack9650@gmail.com
Chat Now And Get Quote