Question

Question #0c399

Answer 1

`2.09 * 10^(-5)`

Explanation:

A mole of molecules is simply a very large collection of molecules. In order to have one mole of oxygen molecules, you need to have exactly `6.022 * 10^(23)` molecules of oxygen.

This very large number, which is known as Avogadro's number, allows you to convert from moles of a substance to molecules of a substance.

In your case, the problem tells you that you have a total of `1.26 * 10^(19)` molecules of oxygen gas, `"O"_2`. Right from the start, you can compare this number to Avogadro's number and say that this many molecules will amount to significantly less than one mole, since

`1.26 * 10^(19) < 6.022 * 10^(23)`

To determine exactly how many moles of oxygen you have, use Avogadro's number as a conversion factor

`1.26 * 10^(19) color(red)(cancel(color(black)("molecules O"_2))) * overbrace("1 mole O"_2/(6.022 * 10^(23)color(red)(cancel(color(black)("molecules O"_2)))))^(color(blue)("Avogadro's number")) = color(green)(2.09 * 10^(-5)"moles O"_2)`

Alternatively, you can express this number in standard notation to get

`n = color(green)("0.0000209 moles O"_2)`

The answer is rounded to three sig figs, the number of sig figs you have for the number of molecules of oxygen.