Question

The Russian Mir space station used a chemical oxygen generator system to make oxygen for the crew. The system ignited a tube of solid lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) to make oxygen and lithium chloride (LiCl):
LiClO4 (s)  2O2 (g) + LiCl (s)
If you have 500 g of LiClO4, then how many liters of oxygen will the system make at the station’s standard operating conditions, a pressure of 101.5 kPa and a temperature of 21°C? (Show the steps involved in your work.)

Answer 1

LiClO4 --> LiCl + 2O2

mols LiClO4 = grams/molar mass
Using the coefficients in the balanced equation, convert mols LiClO4 to mols O2.
Now use PV = nRT and convert mols O2 to L at the conditions listed. Remember T must be in kelvin. If you use kPa for P you must use 8.314 for R.