Quantized Charge Problem, Why is this right?

  • Thread starter Thread starter PFStudent
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Charge quantized
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 3K views
PFStudent
Messages
169
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



26. Calculate the number of coulombs of positive charge in 250 [itex]cm^3[/itex] of (neutral) water. (Hint: A hydrogen atom contains one proton; an oxygen atom contains eight protons.)

Homework Equations



[tex] q = n_{e}e, n_{e} = \pm1, \pm 2, \pm 3,...,[/tex]

e [itex]\equiv[/itex] elementary charge

[tex] e = 1.60217646{\textcolor[rgb]{1.00,1.00,1.00}{.}}x{\textcolor[rgb]{1.00,1.00,1.00}{.}}10^{-19}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution



[tex] q = n_{e}e, n_{e} = \pm1, \pm 2, \pm 3,...,[/tex]

[itex]n_{p} \equiv[/itex] number of protons
[itex]q_{p} \equiv[/itex] charge on a single proton

[tex] q_{p} = +e[/tex]

[tex] q = \left(n_{p}\right)\left(q_{p}\right)[/tex]

Z [itex]\equiv[/itex] Atomic Number (Number of Protons)
m [itex]\equiv[/itex] mass
M [itex]\equiv[/itex] Molar Mass ([kg]/[mols])

[tex] \rho_{w} = \frac{m_{w}}{V_{w}}[/tex]

[tex] n_{p} = \frac{m_{w}}{m_{H_{2}O}} \cdot \frac{Z_{H_{2}O }}{1}[/tex]

[tex] n_{p} = \frac{m_{w}}{\left(2m_{H}+1m_{O}\right)}} \cdot \frac{\left(2Z_{H}+1Z_{O}\right)}{1}[/tex]

[tex] q = \left(\frac{\left(V_{w}\rho_{w}\right)}{2m_{H}+1m_{O}} \cdot \frac{2Z_{H}+1Z_{O}}{1}\right)q_{p}[/tex]

[tex] q = \left(\frac{V_{w}\rho_{w}}{2\left(\frac{M_{H}}{N_{A}}\right)+1\left(\frac{M_{O}}{N_{A}}\right)} \cdot \frac{2Z_{H}+1Z_{O}}{1}\right)q_{p}[/tex]

[tex] q = \left(\frac{N_{A}V_{w}\rho_{w}}{2M_{H}+1M_{O}} \cdot \frac{2Z_{H}+1Z_{O}}{1}\right)q_{p}[/tex]

The above equation yields the correct solution, however my question is why is this right as opposed to the following?

[tex] q = \left(\frac{m_{w}}{m_{p}}\right)q_{p}[/tex]

[tex] q = \left(\frac{V_{w}\rho_{w}}{m_{p}}\right)q_{p}[/tex]

Why is the previous equation wrong?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

-PFStudent
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org