Coal is a fossil fuel made primarily of carbon but it also c

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.

Solution

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