Question

Toluene (C7H8) and nitric acid (HNO3) are used in the production of trinitrotoluene (TNT, C7H5N3O6), an explosive. C7H8 + HNO3 => C7H5N3O6 + H2O (not balanced) (a) what mass in grams of nitric acid is required to react with 454 g C7H8 (b) what mass in grams of TNT can be made from 829 g C7H8 ?

Answer 1

  The mass in grams  of nitric  acid that is required  to react  with 454g C7H8 is 932.72  grams

     calculation
find the  moles  of C7H8  used
moles = mass/molar mass

= 454 g/92  = 4.935  moles

balanced reacting  equation

C7H8  +3 HNO3  = C7H5N3O6  +3 H20
by  use of mole ratio between  C7H8  to  HNo3  which is  1:3  the moles of  HNO3  =4.935  x3 = 14.805  moles

mass of HNo3  =  moles  x molar mass
= 14.805  x 63  = 932.72  grams

part B

the  mass of  C7H5N3o6 = 2045.5 grams

calculate the moles of C7H8
= 829 g/92  g/mol  = 9.011  moles

by use of mole  ratio  between C7H8 to C7H5N3O6  which is  1:1  the moles of  C7H5N3O6  is also  = 9.011  moles

mass of  C7H5N3O6  is therefore  =  moles x molar mass

=9.011 x227  = 2045.5 grams