From Solen and Herb, Introduction to Chemical Engineering 5th Ed.

(2011)
Chapter 4 - Reading Questions: 4, 7, 8 and 11
4. Using the material in the beginning of the textbook (after the table of contents and
before Chapter 1), nd and report the following:
a. The meaning and dimensions of the symbol wf as used in this textbook:
Work of friction per mass of fluid, energy/mass (J/kg)
b. The equivalent of 1 Btu (a unit of energy) when expressed in Joules (J):
1055.05585262 J
c. The denition of 1 lbf in terms of lbm, ft, and s
1 lbf 32.174 lbm ft/s2
Therefore in terms of:
32.174 lbm= 1 lbf s2/ft
ft = 1 lbf s2/32.174 lbm
s=sqrt(32.174 lbm ft/1 lbf)
d. The atomic weight and symbol for the element tungsten:
Tungsten, Symbol: W
Atomic weight: 183.86
7. Using water and air as examples, what is an approximate ratio of the densities of
liquids to gases?
For liquids, the density is relatively independent of such variables as pressure and
temperature. The densities of gases are much less than those of liquids.
The approximate density of water at room temperature is:
water,25C 1.0g /cm3 = 1000kg /m3
While the density of air at room temperature is:
air,25C 0.0012g /cm3 = 1.2kg /m3
The ratio of liquids to gasses are 1000kg: 1.2 kg per m3
8. Two compounds, one with a high molecular weight and one with a low molecular
weight, are owing at the same mass ow rate. Which has the greater molar ow
rate?
The molar ow rate is the number of moles of a material that passes a reference plane
within a unit time interval.
Mass flow rate=dm/dt=mass (-m)/time (t)
Molecular weight (M)= m/n= mass/mole
Molar flow rate=dn/dt=Moles(n)/time(t)
Molar flow rate= mass flow rate/M

Therefore, the compound with a high molecular weight will have a smaller fraction and
thus have a smaller molar flow rate. The compound with a low molecular weight will
have a greater molar flow rate.
11. Solution 1 has a greater density than does solution 2, and solution 1 also has a
greater concentration of species A than does solution 2. For these solutions, answer
each of the following questions and support your answer:
a. Which will occupy greater volume: 1 kg of solution 1, or 1 kg of solution 2?
Volume= mass/ (mass/volume)= mass/ density
The lower density solution will occupy greater volume (per equal mass)
b. Which will contain more molecules of species A: 1 gallon of solution 1, or 1
gallon of solution 2?
Molecules of species A= (molecules of species A/volume)*volume
Molecules of species A= concentration* volume
The solution with a greater volumetric concentration of species A will contain
more molecules of species A per unit volume
c. If the two solutions ow with equal volumetric ow rate, which stream will
have
i.
The greater mass ow rate for the entire stream?
Mass flow rate=density * volumetric flow rate
The solution with the greater density will have a greater mass flow rate.
ii.

The greater molar ow rate of species A?

Molar flow rate of species A = Moles of species A/time
= (moles of A/ volume)*(volume/time) = Concentration of species A*
volumetric flow rate
Molar flow rate=Concentration*volumetric flow rate
The solution with the greater concentration of species A will have the
greater molar flow rate of species A.

iii.

The greater mass ow rate of species A?

Mass flow rate of species A= ma= (mass of species A/time)
Mass of fraction of species A=xa=(mass of species A/mass of solution)
Concentration of species A=ca=(moles of species A/volume)
Volumetric flow rate=V
Density=D
Ma= V*D*xa= V*D*((caMa)/p)= \V*ma*ca
The solution with a greater molar concentration of species A will have the
greater mass flow rate of species A (since V and ma are constant).

Chapter 4 - Homework Problems: 3, 4, 6, 8

3. A gas mixture has the following percentages by mass: N2: 70% O2: 14% CO: 4% CO2:
12%
What are the mole percentages of the gases in the mixture?
Divide mass fraction by 100:
N2: 70% = 0.70
O2: 14% =0.14
CO: 4%=0.04
CO2: 12%= 0.12
Mole percentage=mole fraction*100=mass fraction*(aver. molar mass/molar mass)*100
Mole percentage=1/molar mass of (0.12/44)+(0.14/32)+(0.04/28)+(0.70/28)=0.03353
1/0.03353=29.8g/mol
N2: (0.70gmol N2)( 29.8g/mol /28.014g N2/gmol)*100=8.13%
O2: (0.14gmol O2)( 29.8g/mol/31.998g O2/gmol)*100=13.04%
CO: (0.04gmol CO)( 29.8g/mol/ 28.01g CO/gmol)*100=4.26%
CO2: (0.12gmol CO2)(29.8g/mol/44.009g CO2/gmol)*100=74.50%
4. A 6M sulfuric acid solution (H2SO4 in water) is owing into a tank at the rate of
100 liters/min (also can be written 100 L/min). The density of the solution is 1.34
g/cm3. Determine the value of the items requested below (show your work). For
parts (b) - (d), rst write out the equation using symbols for the appropriate
variables, then algebraically solve for the unknown variables, and nally substitute
in the numerical values and calculate the values for the unknown variables.
a. The molecular weight of the sulfuric acid
MH2SO4=2*Mah+Mas+4*Mao
MH2SO4=(2*1)+(32)+(4*16)=98 g/mol
b. The molar ow rate of H2SO4 into the tank
(Mole H2SO4/time)=(mole H2SO4/volume)(volume/time)=Ch2so4*V=FH2SO4
=6(mole H2SO4/Liter solution)100(liter solution/minute)
=600 mole H2SO4/minute
c. The mass ow rate of H2SO4 into the tank
(mass H2SO4/time)=(mole H2SO4/volume)(volume/time)(mass
H2SO4/mole H2SO4)
MH2SO4=CH2SO4*V*MH2SO4
=6(mole H2SO4/liter solution)(100*(liters/min)) (98(grams H2SO4/moles
H2SO4))
d. The total mass ow rate into the tank
1.34 g/cm3=1,340g/L
(Total mass/time)=(total volume/time)(total mass/total volume)=V*desity=m
=100(liters/min)*1340(grams/liter)=134,000 (grams/min)=2.2kg/sec

6. The exhaust gas coming from a coal-burning furnace (ue gas) usually contains
sulfur in the form of SO2, and when the gas is discharged into the atmosphere
(which sometimes happens), the SO2 can eventually react with oxygen and water to
form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), hence, acid rain.
The reaction is SO2 + 1 2O2 + H2OH2SO4
The air around an old power plant has the following average composition: H2SO4:
0.1 mole% O2: 20.2 mole% N2: 77.9 mole% H2O: 1.8 mole%
What is the number of grams of sulfuric acid per ton (2000 lbm) of this air?
Component
H2SO4
O2
N2
H2O

Mole fraction
(% divided by 100)
0.001
0.202
0.779
0.018

Molar mass (g/mol)

98.1
32
28
18

Find average molar mass of mixture:

(0.001*98.1 g/mole)+(0.202*32 g/mole)+(0.779*28 g/mole)+(0.018*18 g/mole)=28.7
g/mole
Convert answer on a per ton of air basis :
1 ton= 1000kg)
Average mass: (1/28.7g/mole) = 0.0348 mole/g= 34.84mol/kg= 34,840 total moles/ton air
(grams of H2SO4/ton air)=(total mass/ton air)(g H2SO4/mole H2SO4)(mole H2SO4/total
mole)
=(1/aver. Mass)*MH2SO4*mole fraction of H2SO4
=34,840*98.1*0.001
=3,418 g H2SO4/ton air
8. A piston is movable (up and down) inside a vertical cylinder as shown below. The
pressure beneath the piston is greater than the pressure on top of the piston, and
this difference in pressure can support the mass (and weight) of the piston according
to the equation
(PressureunderPressureover)Areapiston cross sect. = (masspiston) g
Where g is the acceleration of gravity and the other pertinent values are shown in
the drawing. (Note: Pressure is force per area, and the abbreviation psi on the
values of the pressure represents lbf /in2.) For these values, how much mass (lbm)
can the piston have and be supported by these pressures?
Pressureunder= 58.6 psi=58.6 lbf /in2
Pressureover= 14.7 psi= 14.7 lbf /in2

Areapiston cross sect. = .074 ft2=10.656 in2

(PressureunderPressureover)Areapiston cross sect. = (masspiston) g
(58.6 lbf /in214.7 lbf /in2)(10.656 in2)= 467.7984 lbf g =468 lbf
Convert Ibf into Ibm:
1 lbf 32.174 lbm ft/s2
(468 lbf)((32.174 lbm ft/s2)/1 Ibf)= 15057.432 lbm ft/s2
The piston can have and be supported by these pressures when mass is 15,057 lbm ft/s2.