how many total atoms are in 50 molecules of h2o

Lussy04

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25-01-2025

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Water (H₂O) is a ubiquitous molecule, essential for life as we know it. But have you ever wondered how many atoms make up even a small number of these molecules? Let's explore how to calculate the total number of atoms in 50 water molecules.

Understanding the Water Molecule

Before diving into the calculation, let's review the structure of a water molecule. The chemical formula, H₂O, tells us that each molecule of water contains:

• Two hydrogen (H) atoms: Represented by the subscript "2".
• One oxygen (O) atom: Represented by the absence of a subscript (meaning a single atom).

Therefore, each H₂O molecule has a total of 3 atoms.

Calculating the Total Number of Atoms

Now, we can proceed to calculate the total number of atoms in 50 water molecules. This is a simple multiplication problem:

• Atoms per molecule: 3 atoms/molecule
• Number of molecules: 50 molecules
• Total atoms: (3 atoms/molecule) * (50 molecules) = 150 atoms

Therefore, there are a total of 150 atoms in 50 molecules of water (H₂O).

Expanding the Concept: Avogadro's Number and Moles

While this calculation is straightforward for a small number of molecules, dealing with larger quantities requires understanding Avogadro's number. Avogadro's number (approximately 6.022 x 10²³) is the number of atoms or molecules in one mole of a substance.

One mole of water (H₂O) contains Avogadro's number of molecules (6.022 x 10²³ molecules). To find the number of atoms in one mole of water, we'd multiply Avogadro's number by 3 (atoms per molecule):

(6.022 x 10²³ molecules/mole) * (3 atoms/molecule) = 1.8066 x 10²⁴ atoms/mole

This demonstrates how rapidly the number of atoms increases as the quantity of substance grows.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are 150 atoms in 50 molecules of water. Understanding the structure of molecules and applying simple arithmetic allows us to determine the total number of atoms present. This basic concept extends to larger quantities using Avogadro's number, which is crucial in chemistry and related fields. Remember, each water molecule has three atoms, making the calculation straightforward, even when dealing with larger quantities.