During the Volcanic Eruption of Mt

Essay

During the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pelee in 1902, an incredibly hot "burning cloud" rolled down the mountain and incinerated the town of Saint-Pierre. From the damage done, the temperature in the cloud was estimated at 700°C. If the air temperature was 20°C and a mole of air is 29 grams, estimate the molecular weight of the gas in the "burning cloud" that made it heavier than the surrounding air. (As a follow-on, estimate the most probable composition of the cloud. Some typical volcanic gases are H₂S, SO₂, H₂SO₄, CO₂, NO.)