How many total atoms are there in 26.7 g of carbon monoxide (CO
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
To find the total number of atoms in 26.7 g of carbon monoxide (CO), follow these steps:
Step 1: Calculate the molar mass of CO
- Carbon (C) = 12.01 g/mol
- Oxygen (O) = 16.00 g/mol
Total molar mass = 12.01 + 16.00 = 28.01 g/mol
Step 2: Calculate moles of CO in 26.7 g
Moles = Mass ÷ Molar Mass
Moles of CO = 26.7 g ÷ 28.01 g/mol ≈ 0.953 moles
Step 3: Calculate the number of molecules using Avogadro’s number
Avogadro’s number = 6.022 × 10²³ molecules/mol
Number of CO molecules = 0.953 mol × 6.022 × 10²³ ≈ 5.74 × 10²³ molecules
Step 4: Calculate total number of atoms
Each CO molecule has 2 atoms (1 carbon and 1 oxygen)
Total atoms = 5.74 × 10²³ molecules × 2 atoms/molecule ≈ 1.15 × 10²⁴ atoms
Final Answer: Approximately 1.15 × 10²⁴ total atoms
Explanation:
Carbon monoxide is a diatomic molecule consisting of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom bonded together. To determine how many atoms are present in a given mass, you must first convert the mass to moles using the molar mass. The molar mass of CO is calculated by adding the atomic masses of carbon and oxygen, giving 28.01 g/mol.
Once you have the number of moles, use Avogadro’s number to convert moles to individual molecules. Since each molecule of CO contains two atoms, multiplying the total number of molecules by two gives the total atom count.
This process reflects the fundamental relationship between mass, moles, and number of particles, which is a core concept in chemistry for understanding how microscopic particles translate to measurable quantities in the laboratory.
