How Many Molecules Are There In 230 Grams Of CoCl2?
Chemistry is an intriguing field that explores the properties and behavior of different elements and compounds that make up our world. One fundamental concept in chemistry is the mole, which helps us understand the quantity of particles in a given substance. When it comes to determining the number of molecules in a sample, it is essential to consider the molar mass and Avogadro’s number. In this article, we will delve into the question of how many molecules are present in 230 grams of CoCl2, providing a clear and understandable explanation.
Firstly, let’s break down what CoCl2 represents. CoCl2 is the chemical formula for cobalt(II) chloride, which consists of one cobalt atom (Co) and two chloride atoms (Cl). To determine the number of molecules in a sample, we need to understand the concept of a mole.
A mole is defined as 6.022 x 10^23 particles, which is known as Avogadro’s number. This number is a fundamental constant in chemistry that allows scientists to relate the mass of a substance to the number of particles it contains. Avogadro’s number is critical in understanding the vastness of the microscopic world.
The next factor we need to consider is the molar mass of CoCl2. Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance and is expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). To calculate the molar mass of CoCl2, we need to take the sum of the atomic masses of all the atoms in the compound.
The atomic mass of cobalt (Co) is 58.93320 g/mol, and the atomic mass of chlorine (Cl) is 35.453 g/mol. Since there are two chlorine atoms in CoCl2, we multiply the atomic mass of chlorine by 2. Therefore, the molar mass of CoCl2 is calculated as follows:
Molar mass (CoCl2) = atomic mass (Co) + (atomic mass (Cl) x 2)
Molar mass (CoCl2) = 58.93320 g/mol + (35.453 g/mol x 2)
Molar mass (CoCl2) = 58.93320 g/mol + 70.906 g/mol
Molar mass (CoCl2) = 129.8392 g/mol
Now that we know the molar mass of CoCl2 is approximately 129.8392 g/mol, we can determine the number of moles present in 230 grams of CoCl2 using the equation:
Number of moles = Mass (g) / Molar mass (g/mol)
Number of moles = 230 g / 129.8392 g/mol
Number of moles = 1.7727 mol
We have determined that there are approximately 1.7727 moles of CoCl2 in 230 grams of the compound. To find the number of molecules, we multiply the number of moles by Avogadro’s number.
Number of molecules = Number of moles x Avogadro’s number
Number of molecules = 1.7727 mol x 6.022 x 10^23 molecules/mol
Number of molecules = 1.067 x 10^24 molecules
Therefore, there are approximately 1.067 x 10^24 molecules in 230 grams of CoCl2. This vast number of molecules highlights the incredible scale at which chemical interactions occur, even within a small sample.
In conclusion, to determine the number of molecules in a given sample, we need to consider the molar mass of the compound and Avogadro’s number. By calculating the molar mass of CoCl2, we found that there are approximately 1.7727 moles in 230 grams. Multiplying this by Avogadro’s number, we discover that there are roughly 1.067 x 10^24 molecules present. Understanding these fundamental concepts helps us comprehend the vastness and intricacy of the microscopic world, laying the foundation for further exploration and discoveries in the field of chemistry.