Sulfur trioxide can react with atmospheric water vapor to form sulfuric acid that falls as acid rain. Calculate the mass in grams of 3.65 × 10²⁰ molecules of SO₃. A)6.06 × 10 ⁻⁴ g B)2.91 × 10 ⁻² g C)4.85 × 10 ⁻² g D)20.6 g E)1650 g

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1 mole of SO3 contains 6.022 × 10^23 molecules.

The molar mass of SO3 is 80.06 g/mol.

We can use these values to convert the given number of molecules of SO3 to grams:

3.65 × 10^20 molecules SO3 * 1 mol SO3/6.022 × 10^23 molecules SO3 * 80.06 g/mol SO3 = 4.85 × 10^-12 g SO3

Since one molecule of SO3 produces one molecule of H2SO4, we can say that 3.65 × 10^20 molecules SO3 will produce 3.65 × 10^20 molecules H2SO4.

The molar mass of H2SO4 is 98.07 g/mol.

We can use the number of molecules of H2SO4 to calculate the mass in grams:

3.65 × 10^20 molecules H2SO4 * 1 mol H2SO4/6.022 × 10^23 molecules H2SO4 * 98.07 g/mol H2SO4 = 0.000223 g H2SO4

Therefore, the mass of 3.65 × 10^20 molecules SO3 that react with atmospheric water vapor to form acid rain is 0.000223 g or 4.85 × 10^-12 g SO3.

The closest answer choice is C, 4.85 × 10^-12 g SO3 or 4.85 × 10^-12 g H2SO4.

Sulfur Trioxide Can React with Atmospheric Water Vapor to Form