Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements

Tro - Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 6th Edition

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Tro 6th Edition

Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements

Problem 104

Chapter 2, Problem 104

Using scanning tunneling microscopy, scientists at IBM wrote the initials of their company with 35 individual xenon atoms (as shown below). Calculate the total mass of these letters in grams.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the atomic mass of xenon. The atomic mass of xenon (Xe) can be found on the periodic table. It is approximately 131.29 atomic mass units (amu).

Step 2: Convert the atomic mass of xenon from atomic mass units to grams. 1 amu is approximately equal to 1.66 x 10^-24 grams.

Step 3: Multiply the atomic mass of xenon in grams by the number of xenon atoms used to write the initials. In this case, the number of xenon atoms is 35.

Step 4: The result from step 3 will give you the total mass of the xenon atoms used to write the initials in grams.

Step 5: Remember to report your answer with the correct number of significant figures. Since the number of xenon atoms (35) has two significant figures, your final answer should also have two significant figures.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atomic Mass

Atomic mass is the mass of an individual atom, typically measured in atomic mass units (amu). For xenon (Xe), the atomic mass is approximately 131.29 amu. To convert this to grams, we use the conversion factor where 1 amu is equivalent to 1.66 x 10^-24 grams. Understanding atomic mass is essential for calculating the total mass of a given number of atoms.

Mole Concept

The mole is a fundamental unit in chemistry that quantifies the amount of substance. One mole contains Avogadro's number of entities, approximately 6.022 x 10^23. This concept allows chemists to relate the mass of a substance to the number of atoms or molecules, facilitating calculations involving atomic and molecular masses.

Mass Calculation

Mass calculation involves determining the total mass of a substance based on the number of atoms and their individual atomic masses. In this case, to find the total mass of 35 xenon atoms, one would multiply the number of atoms by the mass of a single xenon atom (in grams). This straightforward arithmetic is crucial for solving problems related to the mass of elements in chemical contexts.

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