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The fuel used in many disposable lighters is liquid butane, C4H10. Butane has a molecular weight of 58.1 grams in one mole. How many carbon atoms are in 2.50 g of butane?

User Gisli
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1 Answer

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The exact molecular mass for butane (C4H10) is
12.0096*4+1.0079*10=58.1174 which is 58.1 to 3 significant figures.

Proportion of carbon in the compound
12.0096*4: 58.1174
=>
48.0384 : 58.1174

The mass of carbon in 2.50 grams of butane can be obtained by proportion, namely
Mass of carbon
= 2.50 * (48.0384/58.1174)
= 2.0664
= 2.07 g (approximated to 3 significant figures)

User Meixu Song
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