Copper sulfate is a blue solid that is used to control algae growth. Solutions of copper sulfate that come in contact with the surface of galvanized (zinc-plated) steel pails undergo the following reaction that forms copper metal on the zinc surface. How many grams of zinc would react with 454 g (1 lb) of copper sulfate (160 g/mol) ?
CuSO₄(aq) Zn(s) Cu(s) ZnSO₄(aq)

Question

Copper sulfate is a blue solid that is used to control algae growth. Solutions of copper sulfate that come in contact with the surface of galvanized (zinc-plated) steel pails undergo the following reaction that forms copper metal on the zinc surface. How many grams of zinc would react with 454 g (1 lb) of copper sulfate (160 g/mol) ?
CuSO₄(aq)

Zn(s)

Cu(s)

ZnSO₄(aq)

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The balanced chemical equation shows that 1 mole of copper sulfate reacts with 1 mole of zinc to form 1 mole of copper and 1 mole of zinc sulfate.
The molar mass of copper sulfate is 160 g/mol.
454 g (1 lb) of copper sulfate is equal to 454/160 = 2.8375 mol.
According to the balanced chemical equation, 1 mol of copper sulfate reacts with 1 mol of zinc.
Therefore, 2.8375 mol of copper sulfate reacts with 2.8375 mol of zinc.
The molar mass of zinc is 65.38 g/mol.
Therefore, mass of 2.8375 mol of zinc = 2.8375 × 65.38 = 186.05 g, which can be rounded off to 186 g.

Copper Sulfate Is a Blue Solid That Is Used to Control