What is the mass of 5.3x10^9 atoms of Ne? Answer in grams. 

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

You need the following information to solve this problem:

1. The molar mass of neon is 20.18 grams per mole. (From the Periodic Table.)

2. One mole of a substance contains 6.02 x 10^23 particles.

You can find the mass of a given number of neon atoms by multiplying it by conversion factors expressing the above relationships. The conversion factors we will use are:

1 mole/6.02 x 10^23 atoms

and

20.18 grams/1 mole

When the correct conversion factors are used all units cancel out except those that express the answer. In this case atoms and moles cancel out leaving units of grams:

(5. x10^9 atoms)(1 mole/6.02x10^23 atoms)(20.18 grams/1 mole)

= 1.8x10^-13 grams

Alternatively, you could break this down into two problems by finding the number of moles and then the mass:

(5.3x10^9 atoms)(1 mole/6.02x10^23 atoms) = 8.9 x 10^-15 moles

(8.9x10-^15 moles)(20.18 grams/mole) = 1.8x10^-13 grams

 

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial