How to Calculate Moles of Carbon and Oxygen in a Given Amount of CaCO3?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the number of moles of carbon and oxygen in a given amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), specifically focusing on a scenario involving 0.50 moles of CaCO3. The scope includes homework-related problem-solving and conceptual understanding of moles in chemistry.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express uncertainty about how to approach the problem, questioning whether to find the mass of CaCO3 first.
  • Others clarify that knowing the number of moles of CaCO3 is sufficient to determine the moles of carbon and oxygen present.
  • A participant suggests that there will be 1 mole of carbon and 3 moles of oxygen in each mole of CaCO3.
  • There is a discussion about the definition of a mole, with some participants emphasizing the analogy to a dozen and the importance of understanding the concept rather than just applying formulas.
  • One participant asks if Avogadro's constant is necessary for the calculation, while others indicate that it is not needed for this specific problem.
  • Later replies confirm the ratios of carbon and oxygen in CaCO3, with one participant stating that the answer would be 0.5 moles of carbon and 1.5 moles of oxygen based on the initial 0.50 moles of CaCO3.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the ratios of carbon and oxygen in CaCO3, but there is some initial confusion regarding the approach to the problem and the concept of moles. The discussion includes both clarification and exploration of the topic without reaching a definitive consensus on the initial steps to take.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the definitions and calculations involved, indicating a need for clarity on the concept of moles and the relationships between the elements in CaCO3. There are unresolved aspects regarding the initial approach to the problem.

Sace Ver
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Homework Statement


In 0.50 moles of CaCO3 how many moles of carbon are present? How many moles of oxygen are present?

Given:
0.50 moles of CaCO3
Molar mass is 100.9 g/mol

Homework Equations


n=m/M

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm not quite sure how to do this question would I begin by finding the mass?

Because if so the mass of CaCO3 would be 50.45 g I'm assuming because m=nM.

But then I do not know where to go from there would I find the mass of each of them?
 
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Sace Ver said:

Homework Statement


In 0.50 moles of CaCO3 how many moles of carbon are present? How many moles of oxygen are present?

Given:
0.50 moles of CaCO3
Molar mass is 100.9 g/mol

Homework Equations


n=m/M

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm not quite sure how to do this question would I begin by finding the mass?

Because if so the mass of CaCO3 would be 50.45 g I'm assuming because m=nM.

But then I do not know where to go from there would I find the mass of each of them?
You don't need to know the mass of CaCO3 to figure out how many moles of each constituent there are. You just need to know how many moles of CaCO3 you start with.

Look at it this way. How many molecules of a substance are in one mole of that substance?

If you know there is one atom of element X in each molecule, how many moles of X will there be for each mole of the substance?
 
SteamKing said:
You don't need to know the mass of CaCO3 to figure out how many moles of each constituent there are. You just need to know how many moles of CaCO3 you start with.

Look at it this way. How many molecules of a substance are in one mole of that substance?

If you know there is one atom of element X in each molecule, how many moles of X will there be for each mole of the substance?

1 molecule of substance is in one mole of a substance?

There will be 1 mole of C and 3 moles of O ?
 
Sace Ver said:
1 molecule of substance is in one mole of a substance?

You need to review the definition of mole:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(unit)

There will be 1 mole of C and 3 moles of O ?

Yes, but not because you think there is one molecule in one mole.
 
SteamKing said:
You need to review the definition of mole:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(unit)
Yes, but not because you think there is one molecule in one mole.
Will I have to use Avogadro's constant to get my answer?
 
Sace Ver said:
Will I have to use Avogadro's constant to get my answer?
No, but you still need to understand the concept of what a mole is.

A mole is a standard number of molecules of a substance. Think of it as being analogous to what a dozen is. It doesn't matter what we are talking about, be it a dozen doughnuts, or a dozen cars, or a dozen dogs, a dozen means twelve somethings.

Same thing with moles. One mole of a substance contains a standard number of somethings, in this case that number is waaaay more than 12. It is, in fact Avogadro's number of molecules in one mole of a substance.

Now, if one molecule of CaCO3 contains one Calcium atom, one Carbon atom, and three Oxygen atoms, then if we collected a dozen molecules of CaCO3, how many Calcium atoms, Carbon atoms, and Oxygen atoms would we have?
If we collected 10,000 molecules?
One million molecules?
An Avogadro's number of molecules?

Does the ratio of Calcium atoms to Carbon atoms to Oxygen atoms change depending on how many molecules of one substance are collected?
 
SteamKing said:
No, but you still need to understand the concept of what a mole is.

A mole is a standard number of molecules of a substance. Think of it as being analogous to what a dozen is. It doesn't matter what we are talking about, be it a dozen doughnuts, or a dozen cars, or a dozen dogs, a dozen means twelve somethings.

Same thing with moles. One mole of a substance contains a standard number of somethings, in this case that number is waaaay more than 12. It is, in fact Avogadro's number of molecules in one mole of a substance.

Now, if one molecule of CaCO3 contains one Calcium atom, one Carbon atom, and three Oxygen atoms, then if we collected a dozen molecules of CaCO3, how many Calcium atoms, Carbon atoms, and Oxygen atoms would we have?
If we collected 10,000 molecules?
One million molecules?
An Avogadro's number of molecules?

Does the ratio of Calcium atoms to Carbon atoms to Oxygen atoms change depending on how many molecules of one substance are collected?
The ratio doesn't change, right?
 
Sace Ver said:
The ratio doesn't change, right?
Right.
 
SteamKing said:
Right.
Okay I tried this question once again.
Would I first find the number of carbon and oxygen and then find the mole?
 
  • #10
SteamKing said:
Right.

The answer would be 0.5 mol of carbon and 1.5 mol of oxygen? Would that be correct?
 
  • #11
Sace Ver said:
The answer would be 0.5 mol of carbon and 1.5 mol of oxygen? Would that be correct?

Yes.
 

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