Question

Silicon carbide (SiC) is made by the high-temperature reaction of silica sand (quartz) with coke; the byproduct is carbon monoxide.

(a) Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction.

(b) Calculate the standard enthalpy change per mole of SiC produced.

(c) Predict (qualitatively) the following physical properties of silicon carbide: conductivity, melting point, and hardness.

Short answer

$Si{O}_2\left(s\right)+3C\left(s\right)\to SiC\left(s\right)+2CO\left(g\right)$

Step-by-step solution

The given chemical reaction

In the given chemical reaction, the reactants are quartz ( ${\mathbf{SiO}}_2$) and coke.

The product is silicon carbide (SiC).

The word equation is as shown below:

$quartz+coke\to Siliconcarbide$

Step 2:The unbalanced chemical equation

The balanced chemical equation of the reaction is as shown below:

$Si{O}_2\left(s\right)+C\left(s\right)\to SiC\left(s\right)+CO\left(g\right)$

The balanced chemical equation

The balanced chemical equation of the given reaction is as shown below:

$Si{O}_2\left(s\right)+3C\left(s\right)\to SiC\left(s\right)+2CO\left(g\right)$