Exploring the Mole Calculation in Chemistry: Determining Hydrogen Content in Compounds

How to determine the amount of hydrogen in a compound using the mole calculation method?

Given the data on the combustion of an unknown compound producing carbon dioxide and water, how can we calculate the number of moles of hydrogen present in the original sample?

Answer:

The original compound contained 1.05 mol of hydrogen based on the combustion data provided.

Understanding the mole calculation method is crucial in determining the composition of compounds, especially when dealing with elements like hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. When a compound undergoes combustion, it produces specific byproducts such as carbon dioxide and water, which can be analyzed to determine the original composition of the compound.

In the case of the unknown compound mentioned in the data, the combustion resulted in 5.13 g of carbon dioxide and 2.10 g of water being produced. By applying the law of conservation of mass and considering the molar mass of hydrogen in water, we can calculate the number of moles of hydrogen present in the original sample.

To determine the mole amount of hydrogen, we need to first calculate the molar mass of hydrogen in water. Since the molar mass of hydrogen is 1 g/mol and water consists of 2 hydrogen atoms, the molar mass of hydrogen in water is 2 g/mol.

By dividing the mass of water produced (2.10 g) by the molar mass of hydrogen in water (2 g/mol), we find that the original compound contained 1.05 mol of hydrogen. This calculation helps us understand the composition of the compound and the amount of hydrogen present in it.

Overall, the mole calculation method is a valuable tool in chemistry for analyzing the composition of compounds and determining the amount of specific elements like hydrogen. By applying fundamental concepts and calculations, chemists can unravel the mysteries of unknown compounds and understand their elemental composition.