Question

what mass of vermillion can be produced when 45.0ml of 0.0220M of mercury(II) nitrate is mixed with a solution containing excess sodium sulfide? Vermillion is insoluble in water.

Answer 1

Hg(NO₃)₂ + Na₂S HgS + 2 NaNO₃

Vermillion is HgS

Since sodium sulfide (Na₂S) is added in excess, mercury(II) nitrate [Hg(NO₃)₂] is the limiting reagent and mass of HgS formed will depend on mercury(II) nitrate.

Moles of Hg(NO₃)₂ = molarity volume (L) = .045 0.0220 = 0.00099

According to the balanced chemical reaction, 1 mole of Hg(NO₃)₂ will form 1 mole of HgS

0.00099 mole of Hg(NO₃)₂ will form 0.00099 mole HgS

Mass of HgS formed = Moles molar mass = 0.00099 232.66 = 0.2303 g