Solving Two Charge Problems: Need Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter that1grrl
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Charge
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around two problems related to charge calculations involving water and copper. The first problem asks for the total charge of electrons in 7.0 kg of water, while the second problem involves determining the fraction of electrons lost from a positively charged copper penny weighing 2.0 g.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss their calculations for the total charge of electrons in water and the number of electrons lost from the penny. There is an exploration of the number of molecules and atoms involved, as well as the constants used in the calculations. Some participants question the assumptions made regarding the number of electrons in water molecules and the calculations for the copper penny.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided their calculations and results, indicating a range of answers for the charge of electrons in water. There is a suggestion to reconsider the number of electrons per water molecule. The discussion is ongoing, with participants attempting to clarify their reasoning and calculations without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of potential errors in the constants used and the need to verify the number of electrons in the water molecules. Participants are working within the constraints of the homework problem, which may limit the information available for discussion.

that1grrl
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
I have been trying to figure out these two problems and for some reason my logic or my math is wrong...please help.

1) What is the total charge (in C) on all the electrons in 7.0kg of water.
--what I did. 7000g/18g * 6.022E23 to give me the # of electrons (2.3419E26) then I plugged that into the N=q/e and got q= 37,470,222C. But according to our problem site it is wrong, so where did I go wrong?

2) A 2.0g Cu penny has a positive charge of 0.27millicoulombs. What decimal fraction of its electrons has it lost?
--what I did. 2g/63.546g 8 6.022E23 to get # of electrons it started with (1.895E22) then I plugged used the N=q/e (N= 0.27E-6C/1.6E-19 which came out to 1.6875E12) THen I divided 1.895E22/1.6875E12 to get 1.122E10, but the answer is incorrect.

I would truly apprecate ANY help.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
(1)For question one as far as I can see your right. I got a similar answer: 37 357 777C. Just make sure you are using the given constants.
 
(2) This is what I did:
Number of electrons lost = [itex]\frac{q}{e} = \frac{0.00027}{1.6\times 10^{-19}} = 1.6875\times 10^{15}[/itex]

Number of atoms of Copper in penny = [itex]\frac{2}{63.5} \times 6.02\times 10^{23} = 1.896\times 10^{22}[/itex]

Number of electrons (Each atom has 29 electrons) = [itex]\left(1.896\times 10^{22} \right) \times 29 = 5.50 \times 10^{23}[/itex]

Ratio = [itex]\frac{lost}{total} = \frac{1.6875 \times 10^{15}}{5.50 \times 10^{23}} = 3.07 \times 10^{-9}[/itex]
 
that1grrl said:
1) What is the total charge (in C) on all the electrons in 7.0kg of water.
--what I did. 7000g/18g * 6.022E23 to give me the # of electrons (2.3419E26) then I plugged that into the N=q/e and got q= 37,470,222C. But according to our problem site it is wrong, so where did I go wrong?
/QUOTE]

7000g/18g*6.022E23 tells you how many H20 molecules you have. How many electrons are in an H20 molecule?

-Dan
 

Similar threads

Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
2K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
  • · Replies 23 ·
Replies
23
Views
2K
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K