Final answer:
The correct answer is option a. To calculate the number of moles of MgSiO₃ in 231 g of the compound, divide the given mass by its molar mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the number of moles of MgSiO₃ in 231 g of the compound, we need to use the molar mass of MgSiO₃. The molar mass of MgSiO₃ is calculated by adding up the atomic masses of magnesium (24.31 g/mol), silicon (28.09 g/mol), and oxygen (16.00 g/mol) and multiplying by the subscripts in the formula. The molar mass of MgSiO₃ is 100.39 g/mol. To find the number of moles, we divide the given mass by the molar mass:
Number of moles = Mass / Molar mass
Number of moles = 231 g / 100.39 g/mol
Number of moles ≈ 2.30 mol
So, the correct answer is:
A) 2.5 mol