How to find the Atomic Structure of a Constituent

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on determining the charge density of tap water, with a focus on calculating the number of protons and electrons in various dissolved elements. The user is seeking guidance on how to find the exact number of protons and electrons for elements such as bicarbonate, alongside a list of other constituents in tap water. There is a clarification that while water itself is neutral, the presence of ions means there may be a net charge from the dissolved substances. However, it is noted that solutions are generally neutral due to the balance of positive and negative ions. The user expresses confusion over the definition of charge density from a textbook, prompting a request for clearer methods to calculate it. Overall, the conversation highlights the complexity of calculating charge density in a solution like tap water and the need for accurate data on the elemental composition.
Shelnutt2
Messages
57
Reaction score
0
For a project/idea I'm working on, I need to find the charge density of tap water. I've read that this can be determined by simply subtracting total protons minus total electrons. I've got a list of elements that are in the water, but I'm not 100% sure how to find the exact number of electrons and protons for everything. Elements such as Calcium are easy to find, but then Bicarbonate? I've googled and can't seem to find it. If someone can point me in the right direction, it would be great!

Constituent:

Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium
Potassium
Bicarbonate
Sulfate
Chloride
Fluoride
Bromide
Silica
Nitrite
Ammonia
Phosphorus (dissolved)
Aluminum
Arsenic
Barium
Beryllium
Boron
Cadmium
Chromium
Cobalt
Iron (dissolved)
Lead
Lithium
Manganese
Selenium
Strontium
Vanadium


Thanks
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Shelnutt2 said:
For a project/idea I'm working on, I need to find the charge density of tap water. I've read that this can be determined by simply subtracting total protons minus total electrons.

Water is neutral, so the charge density is zero.
 
Borek said:
Water is neutral, so the charge density is zero.

H2O is neutral, but with all the ions in the water, there has to be something. Even an insignificant amount would still mean something to me.
 
Solutions are neutral as well. Exactly the same amount of positive and negative ions are dissolved.
 
Shelnutt2 said:
For a project/idea I'm working on, I need to find the charge density of tap water. I've read that this can be determined by simply subtracting total protons minus total electrons...

That's a very unusual definition. Where did you see it?
 
chemisttree said:
That's a very unusual definition. Where did you see it?
I got it from a textbook I have. The section talks about tachmen and uses a Tortoises-Hares fable to explain it. Really crummy section, the rest of the book is okay. So I was just going off of the one sentence I quoted below.

Visscher said:
They defined a cell scalar field p(c,t), the electric charge density, obtained from the net charge in the cell (positive minus negative) by dividing by the volume dt(c) = dr^3.

http://books.google.com/books?id=LZ...s+and+Electrodynamics&client=firefox-a&pgis=1

Do you have any better "definitions" on how to calculate charge density? This is the only thing I am stumped on.
 

Thread 'Solubility of MgSO47H2O in water'

It seems like a simple enough question: what is the solubility of epsom salt in water at 20°C? A graph or table showing how it varies with temperature would be a bonus. But upon searching the internet I have been unable to determine this with confidence. Wikipedia gives the value of 113g/100ml. But other sources disagree and I can't find a definitive source for the information. I even asked chatgpt but it couldn't be sure either. I thought, naively, that this would be easy to look up without...
View full post »

Thread 'Why does having 8 valence electrons make an element inert?'

I was introduced to the Octet Rule recently and make me wonder, why does 8 valence electrons or a full p orbital always make an element inert? What is so special with a full p orbital? Like take Calcium for an example, its outer orbital is filled but its only the s orbital thats filled so its still reactive not so much as the Alkaline metals but still pretty reactive. Can someone explain it to me? Thanks!!
View full post »

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top