Cinnabar is a mineral that is mined in order to produce mercury. Cinnabar is HgS. What mass of mercury can be obtained from 50.0g of cinnabar? (use sig figs, give a unit of g)

Answer 1

molar mass of Hg = 200.59

molar mass of HgS = 232.66

1 mol HgS contains 1 mol Hg

Use dimensional analysis to answer the question:

50.0 g HgS x 1 mol HgS/233 g HgS x 1 mol Hg/mol HgS x 201 g Hg/mol Hg = 43.1g Hg (3 sig. figs.)

Answer 2

HgS=Hg+S

molecular mass of Hg=200.59

molecular mass of HgS=232.66

1g of HgS has 200.59/232.66 (g) S, So 50g HgS has 50*200.59/232.66=43.11g Hg