How to Calculate the Number of Moles of Nitric Acid from Oxygen Atoms

What is the method to determine the number of moles of nitric acid when given the quantity of oxygen atoms in the sample?

Understanding the Relationship Between Oxygen Atoms and Nitric Acid

Nitric acid (HNO₃) has the chemical formula HNO₃, where there are three oxygen (O) atoms in each molecule of nitric acid. To calculate the number of moles of nitric acid from a given number of oxygen atoms, we need to follow a specific process.

Steps to Determine the Moles of Nitric Acid

1. Identify the Given Data: Determine the number of oxygen atoms in the sample, such as 3.55x10²³ atoms of O.

2. Calculate Moles of Oxygen: Use Avogadro's number (6.022x10²³ atoms/mol) to find the moles of oxygen atoms in the sample.

3. Apply the Molar Ratio: Since each molecule of nitric acid contains three oxygen atoms, divide the moles of oxygen by three to get the moles of nitric acid.

4. Finalize the Calculation: Round the result to determine the approximate number of moles of nitric acid present.

Example Calculation:

Given: 3.55x10²³ atoms of O

Moles of O = (3.55x10²³ atoms O) / (6.022x10²³ atoms/mol) ≈ 0.589 moles of O

Moles of HNO₃ = (0.589 moles of O) / 3 ≈ 0.196 moles of HNO₃

Therefore, when provided with 3.55x10²³ atoms of oxygen in a sample, there are approximately 0.196 moles of nitric acid present.

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