Hydrogen sulfide is an impurity in natural gas that must be removed. One common removal method is called the Claus process, which relies on the reaction: 8 H2S1g2 + 4 O21g2¡S81l2 + 8 H2O1g2 Under optimal conditions the Claus process gives 98% yield of S8 from H2S. If you started with 30.0 g of H2S and 50.0 g of O2, how many grams of S8 would be produced, assuming 98% yield?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Calculate the molar mass of H2S and O2 to convert the given masses to moles.
2. Determine the limiting reactant by comparing the mole ratio of H2S to O2 from the balanced equation.
3. Use the stoichiometry of the balanced equation to find the theoretical yield of S8 in moles based on the limiting reactant.
4. Convert the theoretical yield of S8 from moles to grams using the molar mass of S8.
5. Calculate the actual yield of S8 by applying the 98% yield to the theoretical yield in grams.

Key Concepts

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on the balanced chemical equation. It allows us to determine the amount of product formed from a given amount of reactants by using mole ratios derived from the coefficients in the balanced equation. In this case, understanding the stoichiometric relationships between H2S and S8 is essential to calculate the theoretical yield of sulfur.

Limiting Reactant

The limiting reactant is the substance that is completely consumed first in a chemical reaction, thus determining the maximum amount of product that can be formed. To find the limiting reactant, one must compare the mole ratios of the reactants used in the reaction. In the Claus process, identifying whether H2S or O2 is the limiting reactant is crucial for calculating the actual yield of S8.

Percent Yield

Percent yield is a measure of the efficiency of a chemical reaction, calculated by comparing the actual yield of a product to the theoretical yield, expressed as a percentage. In this scenario, the Claus process has a 98% yield, meaning that only 98% of the theoretical amount of S8 will be produced from the limiting reactant. This concept is vital for determining the final amount of S8 produced from the initial quantities of H2S and O2.