Final answer:
Option E is incorrect because it misrepresents the number of hydrogen atoms in 16.0 grams of methane. One mole of methane does have 4 moles of hydrogen atoms, which is 24.08 × 10²³ hydrogen atoms, not the amount indicated in option E.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question regarding 16.0 grams of methane (CH₄) requires identifying the incorrect statement about methane's characteristics based on its molar mass and composition. We first need to calculate methane's molar mass by adding together the atomic masses of its constituent elements. Carbon has a molar mass of 12 g/mol, and hydrogen has a molar mass of 1 g/mol. Since methane consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms (C₁H₄), its molar mass is 16 g/mol (12 g/mol for carbon + 4 g/mol for hydrogen).
Now let's review the statements given in the question:
- A is correct because one mole of methane has a mass of 16.0 grams, which matches its molar mass.
- B is correct as one mole of methane contains one mole of carbon, which corresponds to 12.0 grams of carbon.
- C is correct since one mole of any substance contains 6.02 × 10²³ molecules, so 16.0 grams of methane contains exactly that many methane molecules.
- D is correct given that the remaining 4.0 grams in one mole of methane are due to the hydrogen atoms (1 gram per mole × 4 hydrogen atoms per molecule).
- E is incorrect because while one mole of methane does contain 4 moles of hydrogen atoms, 4 moles correspond to 4 × 6.02 × 10²³ hydrogen atoms, which is 24.08 × 10²³ hydrogen atoms, not 4 × 6.02 × 10²³ hydrogen atoms.
Therefore, option E is not a correct description of 16.0 grams of methane.