Chemistry Lab Question: Calculating Water Usage in a Plant's Production Process

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the water usage in a plant's production process, specifically the amount of water allocated to "other things" after accounting for the product stream of 254.3 kg/day AlSO4+12(H2O). The initial calculation of 591 L/day was derived by summing the raw material inputs (20.24 kg Al, 24.04 kg S8, 48.00 kg O2, and 753 kg H2O) and subtracting the product stream. However, it was concluded that the calculation was incorrect, as only part of the product stream consists of water, and the formula AlSO4 is not recognized as valid.

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Homework Statement



A plant takes in 20.24 kg/day Al, 24.04 kg/day S8, 48.00 kg/day 02, and 753 kg/day H2O. It's product stream is 254.3 kg/day AlSO4+12(H2O). The rest of it's water goes to "other things".

How much water goes to other things?

Homework Equations



20.24+24.04+48.00+753=845.28 kg - 254.3 = 590.98 kg = 591 L/d

The Attempt at a Solution



I added the masses of the raw materials, subtracted the mass of the product stream, and the remainder is the water used for "other things."

It seems easy enough to me, but the simplicity of the question is giving me pause, as it's the first question in this course which seemed this simple. My result was 591 L/d.

Basically I want to know if I did this correctly, or am I barking up the completely wrong tree. If I'm wrong, I'd appreciate it if someone told me, but left it at that, as I'd like to try and figure it out on my own.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Your intuition is right - it is not a correct answer.

Only part of the 254.3 kg is water.

Then, I have never seen compound with formula AlSO4.

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methods
 

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