Carbon dioxide may be produced by reacting limestone with aqueous sulfuric acid. Limestone, made up of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and inerts, is fed to a process where it is reacted with a 12% H2SO4 solution. Much of the CO2 and some of the water are removed as a gas and the residue from the process analyzed as follows:
CaSO4 8.56% MgSO4 5.23% H2SO4 1.05% Inerts 0.53% CO2 0.12% Water 84.51%
a) What was the composition of the limestone fed to this process?
b) What percent excess acid was used?
c) What was the analysis of the gas stream from the process?