Please explain about the way to calculate the number of atoms of a certain element in a given mass of a compound?

1 Answer
May 5, 2018

Here's how I do it.

Explanation:

It's all based on the definition:

1 mol of atoms=6.022×1023latoms

Let's say the question is,

How many oxygen atoms are in 12.3 g of KClO3?

Step 1. Calculate the molar mass of KClO3

Mr=1K + 1Cl + 3O=1×39.10 + 1×35.45 + 3×16.00=122.55

So, 1 mol of KClO3 has a mass of 122.55 g.

Step 2. Calculate the moles of KClO3

Moles of KClO3=12.3g KClO3×1mol KClO3122.55g KClO3=0.1004 mol KClO3

Step 3. Calculate the moles of O atoms

We see that one formula unit of KClO3 contains three "O" atoms. So,

1 mol KClO3=3 mol O atoms

Moles of O atoms=0.1004mol KClO3×3 mol O atoms1mol KClO3=0.3011 mol O atoms

Step 4. Calculate the number of O atoms

No. of O atoms=0.3011mol O atoms×6.022×1023lO atoms1mol O atoms

=1.81×1023lO atoms

Thus, 12.3 g of KClO3 contains 1.81×1023lO atoms.

Here is a video on converting moles of a compound to atoms.