Question

Calculate the mass of oxygen per gram of sulfur for sulfur dioxide.

Answer 1

Sulfur dioxide has a molecular formula of SO2. The balanced chemical reaction leading to this isas shown below:

S  +  O2  --->  SO2

Therefore this means that 1 mole of sulfur and 1 mole of O2 reacts to form 1 mol of sulfur dioxide.

Assuming 1 mol of O2 and 1 mol of S for the sake of calculation, therefore:

mass oxygen, O = (1 mol O2) (2 mol O/ 1 mol O2) (16 g O/ mol O) = 32 g O

mass sulfur, S = 1 mol (32 g / mol) = 32 g

Therefore the ratio of O to S is:

O:S = 32 g O / 32 g S = 1 g O2/ 1 g S

 

Hence, there is 1 g of oxygen per 1 g of sulfur in sulfur dioxide.