Problem 2

In a gaseous mixture of CO and

\ce{CO2}

, a mass ratio of carbon : oxygen = 1 : 2 was determined. 2.1 Calculate the mass percent composition of the mixture. 2.2 Calculate the volume percent composition. 2.3 Indicate the values of the carbon : oxygen mass ratio for which both gases cannot be present simultaneously in the mixture.

Step 1 of 4: Set up the equations

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Intuition

One equation counts total mass, the other counts carbon atoms versus oxygen atoms.

28x + 44y = 100;\qquad \dfrac{12\,(x+y)}{16\,(x+2y)} = \dfrac{1}{2}

Analysis

With $x$ = moles of CO and $y$ = moles of $\ce{CO2}$ per 100 g: the mass balance is $28x + 44y = 100$ ; the carbon content is $12(x+y)$ and the oxygen content $16(x+2y)$ , and their ratio equals $1/2$ .