Final answer:
To find the volume of 23.2 g of argon gas at STP, we convert the mass to moles using the atomic mass of argon and then multiply the moles by the molar volume of a gas at STP (22.4 L/mol). This gives us a volume of 13.0 liters for the argon gas.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the volume occupied by 23.2 g of argon at STP, we first need to calculate how many moles of argon this mass represents. Argon has an atomic mass of approximately 39.95 g/mol. Using the formula for moles which is mass divided by molar mass, we get:
moles of Ar = mass of Ar / molar mass of Ar
moles of Ar = 23.2 g / 39.95 g/mol
moles of Ar = 0.5807 mol (approximately)
At STP (standard temperature and pressure), one mole of any gas occupies 22.4 liters. We can use this information to find the volume of 0.5807 moles of argon:
volume of Ar = moles of Ar × molar volume at STP
volume of Ar = 0.5807 mol × 22.4 L/mol
volume of Ar = 13.002 L (rounded to three significant figures)
Therefore, 23.2 g of argon gas occupies 13.0 liters at STP.