A rebreathing gas mask contains potassium superoxide, KO2, which reacts with moi

Question

A rebreathing gas mask contains potassium superoxide, KO2, which reacts with moisture in the breath to give oxygen.

4 KO2(g) + 2 H2O(l) ? 4 KOH(s) + 3 O2(g)

Estimate the grams of potassium superoxide required to supply a person's oxygen needs for one hour. Assume a person requires 1.00 x 10^2 kcal of energy for this time period. Further assume that this energy can be equated to the heat of combustion of a quantity of glucose, C6H12O6, to CO2(g) and H2O(l). From the amount of glucose required to give 1.00 x 10^2 kcal of heat, calculate the amount of oxygen consumed and hence the amount of KO2 required. The ?H for glucose(s) is -1273 kJ/mol.

Explanation / Answer

100kcal=4.184*100 kJ=418.4kJ
c6h12o6+6o2=6co2+6h2o
1 mole glucose gives 6 moles co2
418.4*6/1273 =1.97 moles o2 required
therefore 1.97*4/3 molesof Ko2 required = 2.6267 moles of ko2
=110.2*2.6267 g of KO2=289.45g

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

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