A first-stage recovery of magnesium from seawater is...

A first-stage recovery of magnesium from seawater is precipitation of $\mathrm{Mg}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}$ with $\mathrm{CaO}$ : $$\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}(a q)+\mathrm{CaO}(s)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Mg}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}(s)+\mathrm{Ca}^{2+}(a q)$$ What mass of $\mathrm{CaO}$, in grams, is needed to precipitate $1000 \mathrm{lb}$ of $\mathrm{Mg}(\mathrm{OH})_{2} ?$

A first-stage recovery of magnesium from seawater is precipitation of $\mathrm{Mg}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}$ with $\mathrm{CaO}$ :
$$\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}(a q)+\mathrm{CaO}(s)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Mg}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}(s)+\mathrm{Ca}^{2+}(a q)$$
What mass of $\mathrm{CaO}$, in grams, is needed to precipitate $1000 \mathrm{lb}$ of $\mathrm{Mg}(\mathrm{OH})_{2} ?$

Key Concepts

Precipitation Reactions

Precipitation reactions are processes in which soluble ions react to form an insoluble solid. Understanding precipitation is essential in various chemical processes, including the removal or recovery of specific components from a mixture. In this case, the precipitation reaction is used to recover a desired compound, enabling the separation of one substance from a mixture based on its lower solubility.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry involves analyzing the quantitative relationships between reactants and products in a balanced chemical equation. It enables one to determine how many moles of each reactant are required or how many moles of product can be formed. In this context, stoichiometric ratios allow us to link the amount of precipitated compound with the amount of reactant (CaO) needed for the reaction.

Molar Mass Calculations

Molar mass calculations are used to convert between the mass of a substance and the number of moles. By knowing the molar masses of the compounds involved, one can convert a given mass (for instance, 1000 lb of a compound) into moles, perform stoichiometric calculations, and finally convert the desired mole amounts back into grams or other mass units.

Conversion Between Units

Conversion between units is a fundamental concept that involves changing quantities from one unit system to another, such as from pounds to grams or moles. This step is crucial in chemistry to ensure consistency in calculations and to facilitate accurate comparison of different quantities derived from the chemical reaction.

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