A typical coal-fired electric generating plant will burn about 3 metric tons of coal per hour. Most of the coal burned in the United States contains 1 to 4 % by weight sulfur in the form of pyrite, which is oxidized as the coal burns: 4FeS₂(s) + 11 O₂(g) 2 Fe₂O3(s) + 8 SO₂(9) Once in the atmosphere, the SO₂ is oxidized to SO3, which then reacts with water in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid: If 47.7 metric tons of coal that contains 3.80 % by weight S is burned and all of the sulfuric acid that Hint: 1 metric ton = 1000 kg SO3(9) + H₂O(1)→ H₂SO4(aq) formed rains down into a pond of dimensions 335 m x 285 m x 5.54 m, what is the pH of the pond? (OK to assume 2 mol H₂O* per mole H₂SO4)
Thermochemistry
Thermochemistry can be considered as a branch of thermodynamics that deals with the connections between warmth, work, and various types of energy, formed because of different synthetic and actual cycles. Thermochemistry describes the energy changes that occur as a result of reactions or chemical changes in a substance.
Exergonic Reaction
The term exergonic is derived from the Greek word in which ‘ergon’ means work and exergonic means ‘work outside’. Exergonic reactions releases work energy. Exergonic reactions are different from exothermic reactions, the one that releases only heat energy during the course of the reaction. So, exothermic reaction is one type of exergonic reaction. Exergonic reaction releases work energy in different forms like heat, light or sound. For example, a glow stick releases light making that an exergonic reaction and not an exothermic reaction since no heat is released. Even endothermic reactions at very high temperature are exergonic.
Given:
The equation of oxidation of sulphide ore is given as
4FeS2 (s) + 11 O2 (g) 2 Fe2O3 (s) + 8 SO2 (g)
The oxidation of sulphur dioxide to trioxide is
SO2 + 0.5O2 SO3
The reaction of the formation of sulphuric acid from SO3 is
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO4 (aq)
coal sample weighs 47.7 tons (one ton = 1000kg)
so 47.7 tons = 47700 Kg
a pond of dimensions = 335 m x 285 m x 5.54 m
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