Coal is a fossil fuel made primarily of carbon, but it also contains sulfur amon
ID: 313723 • Letter: C
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