Calculating Negative Electric Charge of Oxygen Gas at STP

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the negative electric charge of all the electrons in a 56 liter sample of diatomic oxygen gas (O2) at standard temperature and pressure (STP).

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to calculate the number of O2 molecules in the given volume and the subsequent steps to find the total charge of the electrons. Some express uncertainty about the formulas needed to begin the calculations.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exchange where one participant attempts to guide the original poster towards finding relevant formulas without providing them directly. Others express frustration over the lack of explicit formulas and seek further clarification.

Contextual Notes

Participants emphasize the importance of understanding the foundational concepts and calculations involved, such as the relationship between volume, number of molecules, and charge, while adhering to the forum's guidelines against providing direct solutions.

dtrain121
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Homework Statement


Find the negative electric charge of all the electrons in a 56 liter sample of oxygen gas at STP. Assume the oxygen gas is diatomic.


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I have no idea. Please help
 
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Hello,

Diatomic, of course, means that each oxygen molecule contains 2 oxygen atoms (ie, O2). Cool. So you know you have 56 liters of a gas, oxygen here, at STP. Do you have a formula that would allow you to calculate how many molecules of O2 gas would occupy that much volume? After you calculate that, its a simple matter of finding out how many electrons each O2 molecule contains, and multiplying your number of molecules by the number of electrons in each molecule by the total charge of each electron.

Hope this helps, reply if you need more clarification! I've deliberately avoided simply giving you the formulas, of course.
 
he did not give me any formulas. i would not know where to start. can you please give me the formulas?
 
dtrain121 said:
he did not give me any formulas. i would not know where to start. can you please give me the formulas?

You need to start by calculating the number of atoms of the gas that are contained in a 56 liter container, at STP-- ie, 1 atmosphere, and 0 degrees C.

No, I will not give you the formula. You should be able to find this one on your own. It's one of the more famous formulas out there. Have you even looked for it? Or thought about where you could?

We're not here to do your work for you.
 

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