What is Galena? Understanding the Composition of this Important Mineral
(a) The mass of sulfur is 31 g.
(b) The mass fractions of lead and sulfur in galena is 0.867 and 0.132 respectively.
(c) The mass percents of lead and sulfur in galena is 86.75% and 13.24% respectively.
Exploring the Composition of Galena
Galena, also known as lead glance, is the mineral form of lead(II) sulfide in its native state. It is the most important lead ore and a significant silver source.
Calculating the Components of Galena
Given the sample of Galena is 234 g and the mass of lead in the sample is 203 g, we can calculate the mass of sulfur, mass fractions of lead and sulfur, and mass percentages of lead and sulfur in the following way:
Calculation Process:
The sample of Galena = 234 g
Mass of lead in Galena sample = 203 g
(a) Mass of Sulfur:Galena = sulfur + lead
Mass of sulfur = Total mass of Galena - Mass of lead
Mass of sulfur = 234 - 203 = 31 g
(b) Mass Fractions:Mass fraction of lead = (Mass of lead) / (Total mass of the Galena sample)
Mass fraction of lead = 203 / 234 = 0.867
Mass fraction of sulfur = 31 / 234 = 0.132
(c) Mass Percentages:Mass percentage of lead = (Mass of lead) / (Total mass of the sample) × 100%
Mass percentage of lead = (203 / 234) x 100% = 86.75%
Mass percentage of sulfur = (Mass of sulfur) / (Total mass of the sample) × 100%
Mass percentage of sulfur = (31 / 234) x 100% = 13.24%
Therefore, in a given sample of galena, the mass of sulfur is 31 g, the mass fractions of lead and sulfur are 0.867 and 0.132 respectively, and the mass percentages of lead and sulfur are 86.75% and 13.24% respectively.