Space vehicles use solid lithium hydroxide to remove exhaled carbon dioxide according to the equation: 2LiOH + CO 2  Li 2 CO 3 + H 2 O. Determine the mass of carbon dioxide removed if the space vehicle carries 42.0 mol of LiOH.

924g

Explanation:

Given parameters

Number of moles of LiOH = 42moles

Unknown:

Mass of carbon dioxide removed = ?

Solution:

We have to solve this problem from the known specie to the unknown. Since we are dealing with reactants, the compound with given number of moles is the known specie.

Using the balanced chemical reaction, we can deduce the number of moles of that of the unknown;

         2LiOH   +     CO₂     →     Li₂CO₃    +    H₂O

   we see that;

            2 moles of LiOH will remove 1 mole of CO₂

           42 moles of LiOH will remove   = 21moles of CO₂

We know the number of moles of CO₂ removed, let us find the mass;

      Mass of CO₂  = number of moles x molar mass

Molar mass of CO₂  = 12 + 2(32) = 44g/mol

       Mass of CO₂ = 21 x 44  = 924g