Calculating Human Lifespan with Avagadro's Number: A Quick Chemistry Question

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating human lifespan based on the number of heartbeats, specifically using Avogadro's number (6.02 x 10^23). A typical adult heart beats approximately 60 times per minute, leading to about 31,536,000 heartbeats per year. By setting up a proportion between 1 mole of heartbeats and the annual heartbeat count, the calculation reveals that a mole of heartbeats equates to approximately 1.9 x 10^16 years. The method involves converting heartbeats per minute into heartbeats per year and applying cross-multiplication to solve the proportion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Avogadro's number (6.02 x 10^23)
  • Basic knowledge of proportions and cross-multiplication
  • Familiarity with time conversions (minutes to years)
  • Concept of average heart rate (60 beats per minute)
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn about Avogadro's number and its applications in chemistry
  • Study proportions and ratios in mathematical problem-solving
  • Explore the relationship between heart rate and lifespan
  • Investigate other calculations involving large numbers in scientific contexts
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This discussion is beneficial for students in chemistry, mathematics enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the relationship between biological metrics and mathematical calculations.

extraordinarygirl
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A typical adult human heart beats an average of 60 times per minute. If you were allotted a mole of heartbeats, how long in years could you expect to live? You may assume each year has 365 days.

I know that I need to use the Avagadro's number ... 6.02 x 10^23, but I am not sure how to formulate a proportion to solve for it. I do know the answer, which is 1.9 x 10^16 years. If anyone could just help me understand how to solve for the answer you would be a great help! :!)
 
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To do this, you need to convert heat beats per minute, into heat beat per year.
You know that there are 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, and (for the purposes of this problem), 365 days in a year.

You are looking for the number of years it would take someone to accumlate 1 mol of heat beats (6.022 E23) at athe rate you just found earlier.
 
Alright, so that would be 31536000 heart beats per year.
And then I would just put it into a proportion.
1 mol - 6.02 x 10 ^23
x - 31536000

and cross multiply!
Thanks, I guess that was an easier question than I was making it out to be!
 

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