Ethyl alcohol is formed by enzyme action on sugars and starches during fermentation. C6H12O6 → 2 CO2 + 2 C2H6O If the density of ethyl alcohol is 0.789 g/mL, how many quarts can be produced by the fermentation of 100.0 lb of sugar?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Convert the mass of sugar from pounds to grams using the conversion factor: 1 lb = 453.592 g.
2. Calculate the moles of glucose (C6H12O6) using its molar mass: 180.18 g/mol.
3. Use the stoichiometry of the balanced equation to find the moles of ethyl alcohol (C2H6O) produced. According to the equation, 1 mole of glucose produces 2 moles of ethyl alcohol.
4. Calculate the mass of ethyl alcohol produced using its molar mass: 46.08 g/mol.
5. Convert the mass of ethyl alcohol to volume using its density (0.789 g/mL), and then convert the volume from milliliters to quarts using the conversion factor: 1 quart = 946.353 mL.

Key Concepts

Fermentation Process

Fermentation is a metabolic process that converts sugars into acids, gases, or alcohol using microorganisms, primarily yeast. In this context, yeast acts on glucose (C6H12O6) to produce ethyl alcohol (C2H6O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Understanding fermentation is crucial for calculating the yield of alcohol from sugar.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions. The equation provided indicates that one mole of glucose produces two moles of ethyl alcohol. By applying stoichiometric principles, one can determine how much ethyl alcohol can be produced from a given amount of sugar, which is essential for solving the problem.

Density and Volume Conversion

Density is defined as mass per unit volume, and it is crucial for converting between mass and volume. In this case, the density of ethyl alcohol (0.789 g/mL) allows for the conversion of the mass of alcohol produced into volume, specifically quarts. Understanding how to manipulate these units is necessary to arrive at the final answer.