Question

Swamp gas consists primarily of methane, a chemical compound consisting of a 1 : 4 ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms. If a sample of methane contains 1564 hydrogen atoms, how many carbon atoms are present in the sample?

Answer 1

Number of carbon atoms present in the sample are 391.

Explanation:

We are given that,

Ratio of carbon to hydrogen atoms = 1 : 4

It is given that a sample of methane consists of 1564 hydrogen atoms.

Let the carbon atoms in the sample = x

So, we have the relation,

`(Carbon)/(Hydrogen)=(1)/(4)=(x)/(1564)`

i.e.
`(1)/(4)=(x)/(1564)`

i.e.
`x=(1564)/(4)}`

i.e. x= 391

Hence, the number of carbon atoms present in the sample are 391.