This assignment is worth 3 extra credit points on your homework score for the se

Question

This assignment is worth 3 extra credit points on your homework score for the semester! In the hit show, Breaking Bad, Walter White cooks up some crystal methamphetamine using the following equation: In the above synthesis, ephedrine (also called pseudoephedrine; or P.E.) has been obtained in the past from over the counter cold medications such as Sudafed, which contains 24 tablets per box and 60 mg of P.E. per tablet. Wait faces a problem. He needs to actually produce 200. lbs. (1 lb. = 454 g) of methamphetamine a week in order to make his boss' operation profitable. Even worse, if Walt doesn't meet his weekly quota, his boss will kill him (and possibly his family). The best-known percent yield for this procedure is 92%. How many boxes of Sudafed would Walt need in order to make his quota and keep his boss happy?

Explanation / Answer

75883 boxes.

1 mole of P.E would give 1 mole of methamphetamine i.e.,

165.23 g of P.E would give 149.24 g of methamphetamine if the reaction goes 100%

Since, the reaction is 92%, 149.24 x 92/100 = 137.30 g

Or, 165.23 g of P.E would give 137.30 g methamphetamine or 1 g methamphetamine would come from 165.23/137.30 g P.E

Given, 200 lbs = 200 x 454 g = 90800 g of methamphetamine is required

90800 g of methamphetamine would come from 90800 x 165.23/137.30 g = 109270.82 g of P.E

1 box contains 24 x 60 mg = 1440 mg or 1.44 g

Therefore, Walt wuld need 109270.28/1.44 = 75882.14 or 75883 boxes

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