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Can someone please help me! No false answers please!!

The formula for a substance is D4 and its molar mass is 30 g. A student is given 150 g of the substance and is asked how many atoms are in the sample. She says there are 5 times Avogadro's number (6.022 x 102) of atoms in her sample. The student is in error, identify her error and explain what the correct answer should be.

Can someone please help me! No false answers please!! The formula for a substance-example-1
User Harpo
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1 Answer

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The student's error is that she is assuming that the number of atoms in a sample is directly proportional to the mass of the sample. Avogadro's number (6.022 x 10²³) represents the number of atoms or molecules in one mole of a substance. However, the number of atoms in a given mass of a substance depends on the molar mass (mass per mole) of the substance, not the Avogadro's number.

The correct way to determine the number of atoms in a sample is to use the formula:

number of atoms = mass of the sample / molar mass

In this case, the molar mass of the substance is 30 g/mol, so the number of atoms in 150 g of the substance is:

number of atoms = 150 g / 30 g/mol = 5 mol

The correct answer is 5 moles of atoms, which is not equal to 5 times Avogadro's number. Therefore, the student's answer is incorrect.The student's error is that she is assuming that the number of atoms in a sample is directly proportional to the mass of the sample. Avogadro's number (6.022 x 10²³) represents the number of atoms or molecules in one mole of a substance. However, the number of atoms in a given mass of a substance depends on the molar mass (mass per mole) of the substance, not the Avogadro's number.

The correct way to determine the number of atoms in a sample is to use the formula:

number of atoms = mass of the sample / molar mass

In this case, the molar mass of the substance is 30 g/mol, so the number of atoms in 150 g of the substance is:

number of atoms = 150 g / 30 g/mol = 5 mol

The correct answer is 5 moles of atoms, which is not equal to 5 times Avogadro's number. Therefore, the student's answer is incorrect.

User Rosie F
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