Hydrogen ions moving through a battery

AI Thread Summary
In the discussion about hydrogen ions moving through a battery, the user calculates the time required for 1 mole of hydrogen ions to pass through a battery with a current of 1A. They determine that it would take 16,402 seconds, which they feel is excessively long. Other participants question the user's expectations for a "sanity check" on the time calculated. The concept of a mole is clarified, confirming that 1 mole equals approximately 6.022 x 10^23 protons. The user’s understanding of the mole is affirmed as correct, suggesting their calculation may be valid despite initial doubts.
spaceid
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Homework Statement


In one type of battery, the current is carried by hydrogen ions moving through the liquid. If 1A is flowing through the battery, how long will it take for 1 mole of hydrogen ions to move through the battery?

1 mole of protons = 6.0 x 1023 protons
qp = 1.6022 x 10-19 C

Homework Equations


I = Nq

The Attempt at a Solution


First I want to find the number of protons passing through a certain plane of a wire, for example, in a current of 6A. Which I calculated to be 3.74 x 1019 protons using the above equation. Then I did a proportionality. If 3.74 x 1019 protons pass through that plane with a current of 6A in one second, then how long would it take 6.0 x 1023 protons at the same current? I calculated that it would take 16,402 seconds, but this feels like too long of a time. But this may be because I do not have a good understanding of what a mole exactly means. Can someone help?
 
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spaceid said:
in a current of 6A. Which I calculated to be 3.74 x 1019 protons using the above equation. Then I did a proportionality. If 3.74 x 1019 protons pass through that plane with a current of 6A in one second, then how long would it take 6.0 x 1023 protons at the same current? I calculated that it would take 16,402 seconds, but this feels like too long of a time.

What makes you think that 16,000 seconds (over 4 hours) is too long? Normally when you do a sanity check, you have a range of acceptable values in mind to compare your answer to. What value were you expecting that is making you think you did something wrong?

spaceid said:
But this may be because I do not have a good understanding of what a mole exactly means

A mole of protons is approximately 6.022*10^23 protons, which is what you have above, so your understanding of what a mole is seems fine.
 
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