Taking into account the reaction stoichiometry, the correct answer is the third option: 15.63 moles of HgO are needed to produce 250 g of O₂.
In first place, the balanced reaction is:
2 HgO → 2 Hg + O₂
By reaction stoichiometry (that is, the relationship between the amount of reagents and products in a chemical reaction), the following amounts of moles of each compound participate in the reaction:
- HgO: 2 moles
- Hg: 2 moles
- O₂: 1 moles
The molar mass of the compounds is:
- HgO: 216.59 g/mole
- Hg: 200.59 g/mole
- O₂: 32 g/mole
Then, by reaction stoichiometry, the following mass quantities of each compound participate in the reaction:
- HgO: 2 moles× 216.59 g/mole= 433.18 grams
- Hg: 2 moles× 200.59 g/mole= 401.18 grams
- O₂: 1 mole× 32 g/mole= 32 grams
Then the following rule of three can be applied: if by reaction stoichiometry 32 grams of O₂ are produced by 2 moles of HgO, 250 grams of O₂ are produced from how many moles of HgO?

<u><em>moles of HgO= 15.625 moles≅ 15.63 moles</em></u>
Finally, the correct answer is the third option: 15.63 moles of HgO are needed to produce 250 g of O₂.
Learn more about reaction stoichiometry: