Producing Phosphoric Acid: Calculating Percent Yield

In summary, phosphoric acid is a versatile chemical used in various industries and is primarily produced through a wet process. The percent yield of phosphoric acid is an important measure of production efficiency and can be affected by factors such as reactant quality, reaction conditions, and human error. It is calculated by dividing the actual yield by the theoretical yield and multiplying by 100%.
  • #1
googol
5
0
Approximately 12 million kilograms of phosphoric acid (H3PO4) are produced annually for fertilizers, detergents, and agents for water treatment. Phosphoric acid can be prepared by heating the mineral fluoroapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F) with sulfuric acid in the presence of water.

Ca5(PO4)3F + 5H2SO4 + 10H2O 3H3PO4 + 5CaSO4.2H2O + HF

If every kilogram of fluoroapatite yields 4.00E2 g of phosphoric acid, what is the percent yield?

I don't get this question! I tried it several times and keep getting the question incorrect. Please help!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2


Show what you did. And don't ignore template.
 

1. What is the purpose of producing phosphoric acid?

Phosphoric acid is a key ingredient in many industrial and commercial products, including fertilizers, detergents, and food additives. It is also used in the production of other chemicals and materials, such as pharmaceuticals and plastics.

2. How is phosphoric acid produced?

Phosphoric acid is primarily produced through a wet process, which involves reacting phosphate rock with sulfuric acid. This produces a mixture of phosphoric acid, calcium sulfate, and other impurities. The mixture is then filtered and purified to extract the phosphoric acid.

3. What is percent yield and why is it important in producing phosphoric acid?

Percent yield is a measure of how much of the desired product is produced compared to the theoretical yield. In the production of phosphoric acid, it is important to calculate the percent yield to determine the efficiency of the reaction and identify areas for improvement in the production process.

4. What factors can affect the percent yield of phosphoric acid?

The percent yield of phosphoric acid can be affected by various factors, such as the quality and purity of the reactants, the reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.), and the efficiency of the purification process. Other factors, such as human error and equipment malfunction, can also impact the percent yield.

5. How is the percent yield of phosphoric acid calculated?

The percent yield of phosphoric acid can be calculated by dividing the actual yield (the amount of phosphoric acid produced) by the theoretical yield (the amount of phosphoric acid that should have been produced based on the amount of reactants used) and multiplying by 100. The formula is: percent yield = (actual yield / theoretical yield) x 100%.

Similar threads

Finding a rock porosity change after an acid mix treatment
    • Biology and Chemistry Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
1K
Chemically regenerating my auto's catalytic converter?
    • Chemistry
Replies
16
Views
2K
Need Help With My Unit Assignment (DUE December 5th)
    • Biology and Chemistry Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
4K
Does Polyprotic Strong Acid Completely Dissociate in a Net Ionic Equation?
    • Chemistry
Replies
2
Views
23K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top