Question

If a particular ore contains 58.6 % calcium phosphate, what minimum mass of the ore must be processed to obtain 1.00 kg of phosphorus?

Answer 1

Answer is: mass of the ore is 8.54kg.

ω(Ca₃(PO₄)₂ - calcium phosphate) = 58.6% ÷ 100% = 0.586.
m(P) = 1.00 kg · 1000 g/kg.
m(P) = 1000 g.
In one molecule of calcium phosphate there are two phosphorus atoms:
M(Ca₃(PO₄)₂) = 310.18 g/mol.
M(P) = 30.97 g/mol.
For one kilogram of phosphorus, we need:
M(Ca₃(PO₄)₂) : 2M(P) = m(Ca₃(PO₄)₂) : m(P).
310.18 g/mol : 61.94 g/mol = m(Ca₃(PO₄)₂) : 1000 g.
m(Ca₃(PO₄)₂) = 5007.75 g ÷ 1000 g/kg = 5.007 kg.
Mass of ore find from proportion:
m(Ca₃(PO₄)₂) : m(ore) = 56% : 100%.
m(ore) = 100% · 5.007 kg ÷ 58.6%.
m(ore) = 8.54kg.