Question

Dimercaprol (HSCH2CHSHCH2OH) was developed during World War I as an antidote to arsenic-based poison gas and is used today to treat heavy-metal poisoning. It binds the toxic element and carries it out of the body. (a) If each molecule binds one arsenic (As) atom, how many atoms of As could be removed by 515 mg of dimercaprol

Answer 1

2.50x10²¹ atoms

Step-by-step explanation:

First we convert the given mass of dimercaprol to moles, to do so we calculate its molar mass:

• Molar Mass of HSCH₂CHSHCH₂OH = (Molar Mass of C)*3 + (Molar Mass of H)*8 + (Molar Mass of S)*2 + Molar Mass of O = 124.227 g/mol

515 mg equal 0.515 g

• 0.515 g ÷ 124.227 g/mol = 4.146 x 10⁻³ mol

As one dimercaprol molecule binds to one As atom, one mol of dimercaprol reacts with one mol of As.

So we convert those 4.146 x 10⁻³ mol of As to atoms, using Avogadro's number:

• 4.146 x 10⁻³ mol * 6.023x10²³ atoms/mol = 2.50x10²¹ atoms