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`A compound known as deuterium oxide, or "heavy water" is sometimes used in nuclear research. It is water, but each hydrogen atom in a "heavy water" molecule has a neutron in the nucleus in addition to the normal proton. So, what would be the percent hydrogen (by mass) in a "heavy water" molecule?

User Tjleigh
by
8.5k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

20%

Step-by-step explanation:

molecular formula of deuterium oxide, or "heavy water" is
D_2O

molecular weight of D2= 4.028204 g/mol

molecular weight of oxygen= 16 g/mol

therefore, molecular weight of water = 20.028204 g/mol

therefore, the percent hydrogen (by mass) in a "heavy water" molecule

=(molecular weight of D2/molecular weight of water)


= (4)/(20.028204)*100

= 20%

User Vivek
by
8.1k points
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