What is the density of hydrogen sulfide (h2s)?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The density of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at standard temperature and pressure (STP) is approximately 1.363 g/L. This value refers to the gas at 0°C (273.15 K) and 1 atmosphere of pressure. However, the density of a gas like H2S can vary with temperature and pressure, so it is important to consider the specific conditions when working with this value.
To understand the density of hydrogen sulfide, it’s useful to use the ideal gas law, which is commonly applied to gases under standard conditions. The ideal gas law is expressed as:
PV=nRTPV = nRTPV=nRT
Where:
- P is pressure (in atmospheres, atm),
- V is volume (in liters, L),
- n is the number of moles of gas,
- R is the universal gas constant (0.0821 L·atm/(mol·K)),
- T is temperature (in Kelvin, K).
From this equation, we can rearrange it to solve for the molar volume of an ideal gas:
Vm=RTPV_m = \frac{RT}{P}Vm=PRT
At STP, the molar volume of any ideal gas is about 22.4 L/mol. For hydrogen sulfide, the molar mass is around 34.08 g/mol. By knowing the molar mass and the molar volume, we can calculate the density of H2S gas as:Density=Molar massMolar volume=34.08 g/mol22.4 L/mol=1.36 g/L\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Molar mass}}{\text{Molar volume}} = \frac{34.08\text{ g/mol}}{22.4\text{ L/mol}} = 1.36\text{ g/L}Density=Molar volumeMolar mass=22.4 L/mol34.08 g/mol=1.36 g/L
Thus, the density of hydrogen sulfide gas under standard conditions is 1.363 g/L, which is greater than that of air (approximately 1.225 g/L at STP). This is because H2S is a heavier gas and will sink if released in the air.
In summary, the density of hydrogen sulfide is relatively high for a gas, and it can have serious implications in practical applications, such as in industrial processes or environmental monitoring, due to its toxicity and potential to form highly corrosive mixtures.
