Syringe: probably a really simple mistake that I can't seem to catch

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    Mistake Syringe
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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the root mean square (rms) speed of oxygen molecules in a syringe under specific conditions. The user initially miscalculates the mass of oxygen by treating the molar mass incorrectly. The correct approach involves using the number of moles derived from the number of molecules and the molar mass of oxygen (32 g/mol) to find the mass. The final rms speed calculation requires the correct mass of a single oxygen molecule and the application of the kinetic energy formula, leading to the correct rms speed of approximately 3.095 m/s.

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  • Understanding of the Ideal Gas Law (PV=nkT)
  • Knowledge of kinetic energy equations (KE=1/2 mv^2)
  • Familiarity with molar mass and Avogadro's number
  • Basic principles of thermodynamics and gas behavior
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  • Review the Ideal Gas Law and its applications in thermodynamics
  • Learn about the calculation of rms speed for different gases
  • Study the relationship between temperature, pressure, and volume in gas laws
  • Explore the concept of molar mass and its significance in gas calculations
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Students studying physics or chemistry, particularly those focusing on thermodynamics and gas laws, as well as educators seeking to clarify concepts related to kinetic theory and molecular motion.

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Homework Statement



A syringe of volume 20 ml has just been used and now lies empty on the doctor's desk. The pressure in the office is 100,000 Pa. Assume that the air is an ideal gas consisting of nitrogen N2 (80%) and oxygen O2 (20%) molecules. k=1.38×10-23 J/K and the molar mass of oxygen is 32 g/mol.

The syringe must be heated to high temperatures to sterilize it. When the syringe is at its maximum temperature, the number of oxygen molecules is 6.5 x 1019 (but the pressure, volume, and percent oxygen remain the same), what is the rms speed of the oxygen molecules?



Homework Equations


PV=nkT
KE=1/2 m v^2=3/2kT


The Attempt at a Solution


Hi ok so I'm new here! Sorry if I'm doing anything incorrectly. I've been working on this problem for quite some time and I have a feeling that the answer is staring at me in the face, but I can't seem to catch my mistake. I'm literally solving for the variable v. I'm so close! Please help me!

1) Find the total # of gas molecules: 6.5*10^19 (100/20)= 3.25*10^20
2) Solve for temperature: PV=nkT: (100,000) (0.02)= (3.25*10^20)* (1.38*10^-23)T
T=445.93088K
3) 32g/mol * 6.022*10^23=1.92704*10^25grams=mass of O2
4) Solve for Vrms: .5(1.92704*10^25)v^2= 3/2(1.38*10^-23)(445.93088)
Vrms= 3.09519902*10^-23

HELP PLEASE!

xxoo
 
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bellekirst23 said:

Homework Statement



A syringe of volume 20 ml has just been used and now lies empty on the doctor's desk. The pressure in the office is 100,000 Pa. Assume that the air is an ideal gas consisting of nitrogen N2 (80%) and oxygen O2 (20%) molecules. k=1.38×10-23 J/K and the molar mass of oxygen is 32 g/mol.

The syringe must be heated to high temperatures to sterilize it. When the syringe is at its maximum temperature, the number of oxygen molecules is 6.5 x 1019 (but the pressure, volume, and percent oxygen remain the same), what is the rms speed of the oxygen molecules?



Homework Equations


PV=nkT
KE=1/2 m v^2=3/2kT


The Attempt at a Solution


Hi ok so I'm new here! Sorry if I'm doing anything incorrectly. I've been working on this problem for quite some time and I have a feeling that the answer is staring at me in the face, but I can't seem to catch my mistake. I'm literally solving for the variable v. I'm so close! Please help me!

1) Find the total # of gas molecules: 6.5*10^19 (100/20)= 3.25*10^20
2) Solve for temperature: PV=nkT: (100,000) (0.02)= (3.25*10^20)* (1.38*10^-23)T
T=445.93088K
3) 32g/mol * 6.022*10^23=1.92704*10^25grams=mass of O2
4) Solve for Vrms: .5(1.92704*10^25)v^2= 3/2(1.38*10^-23)(445.93088)
Vrms= 3.09519902*10^-23

HELP PLEASE!

xxoo

Consider equation 3) again. It says that there are 1.93*1025 grams of O2 in the syringe. That is one heavy syringe! The mass of O2, in equation 4), is actually the mass of one oxygen molecule. How do you find that?

You made a mistake in calculating the mass of oxygen in equation 3). 32g/mol means that one mole of oxygen (or NA molecules) weighs 32g. To find the mass of the molecules, you need to multiply the no. of moles of oxygen with the molar mass.

PS: Also, if you are using the total mass of the molecules in eqn 4), the KE formula needs to be modified to KE = 3/2 NkT = 1/2 m<vrms>2, where N is the no. of molecules.
 
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