Equal masses of #"S"_2#, #"S"_4# and #"S"_8# are taken. Highest number of sulphur atoms are present in?

  1. #"S"_2#

  2. #"S"_4#

  3. #"S"_8#

  4. All have equal number of atoms.

1 Answer
David Drayer
Nov 19, 2017

4

Explanation:

Sulfur has an atomic mass of 32 grams per mole. To find the number of sulfur atoms take the mass divide by 32 g/mole and multiply by avogardro's number # 6.02 xx 10^23# atoms /mole.

Since all of the sample have the same mass all will have the same number of atoms.

Each sample will have a different number of molecules, as the different forms of sulfur have different number of atoms in the molecule.

# S_2# will have the highest number of molecules because with only two atoms of sulfur per molecules it has the smallest molecular mass.

# S_8# will have the lowest number of molecules because with eight atoms of sulfur per molecules it has the highest molecular mass.

Keep in mind the difference between molecules and atoms.

Related questions
Impact of this question
6440 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License