Producing Silicon Carbide: How Much SiO2 is Needed?

What is the minimum amount of SiO2 needed to produce 1.00 kg of silicon carbide?

SiO2(s) + 3C(s) → SiC(s) + 2CO(g)

It is needed 1498.25 g of SiO2.

Minimum Amount of SiO2 Needed

From the chemical equation, we know that to produce 40.10 g of SiC, it is needed 60.08 g of SiO2 and 36.033 g of C (because in the reaction there are 3 moles of C).

Calculating, we obtain that:
[tex]\\frac{1000 \times 60.08}{40.10} = 1498.25 \text{ g}[/tex]

So, it is needed 1498.25 g of SiO2. This can be expressed as 1.50x10^3 g.

When producing silicon carbide from the reaction of SiO2 and carbon, it is crucial to calculate the minimum amount of SiO2 required to obtain the desired 1.00 kg of SiC. The balanced chemical equation provided shows the stoichiometry between SiO2, C, SiC, and CO gas produced.

Based on the molar masses of SiO2 (60.08 g/mol) and SiC (40.10 g/mol) as well as the stoichiometry of the reaction (1:1 ratio), we can determine the necessary amount of SiO2 for the production. By converting the mass units and following the stoichiometric ratio, we find that 1498.25 g of SiO2 is the minimum requirement to produce 1.00 kg of silicon carbide.

This calculation ensures efficient utilization of the reactants and accurate production planning for silicon carbide in industrial processes. Understanding the stoichiometry of reactions is fundamental in chemical engineering and manufacturing applications.