Silicon carbide is an abrasive used in the manufacture of grinding wheels. A company is investigating whether they can be more efficient in the construction of such wheels by making their own SiC via the reaction:

(a) If this reaction consistently has a yield of 85%, what is the minimum amount of both silicon dioxide and carbon needed to produce 3400 kg of SiC for the manufacture of cutting wheels?

(b) The silicon dioxide is to be obtained from sand and the carbon is derived from coal. If the available sand is 95% SiO2 by weight and the coal is 73% C by weight, what mass of coal is needed for each metric ton of sand used?

Transcribed Image Text:

SiO₂ + 3 CSIC + 2 CO