Sodium reacts with oxygen in air to form two compounds: sodium oxide and sodium peroxide. In forming sodium oxide, 23.0 g of sodium combines with 8.0 g of hydrogen. In forming sodium peroxide, 23.0 g of sodium combines with 16.0 g of oxygen. (a) What are the mass ratios of oxygen in the two compounds?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the two compounds formed: sodium oxide (Na2O) and sodium peroxide (Na2O2).
2. Calculate the mass ratio of oxygen in sodium oxide. Given that 23.0 g of sodium combines with 8.0 g of oxygen, the mass ratio of oxygen to sodium in sodium oxide is 8.0 g of oxygen per 23.0 g of sodium.
3. Calculate the mass ratio of oxygen in sodium peroxide. Given that 23.0 g of sodium combines with 16.0 g of oxygen, the mass ratio of oxygen to sodium in sodium peroxide is 16.0 g of oxygen per 23.0 g of sodium.
4. Compare the mass ratios of oxygen in the two compounds. This involves comparing the ratio of 8.0 g of oxygen to 23.0 g of sodium in sodium oxide with the ratio of 16.0 g of oxygen to 23.0 g of sodium in sodium peroxide.
5. Express the mass ratios as a simple ratio or fraction to clearly show the difference in the amount of oxygen combined with a fixed amount of sodium in each compound.

Key Concepts

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the branch of chemistry that deals with the quantitative relationships between the reactants and products in a chemical reaction. It allows chemists to calculate the amounts of substances consumed and produced in a reaction based on balanced chemical equations. Understanding stoichiometry is essential for determining mass ratios and ensuring that the law of conservation of mass is upheld.

Mass Ratio

A mass ratio is a comparison of the mass of one substance to the mass of another substance, often expressed as a fraction or percentage. In the context of chemical compounds, it helps to understand the proportion of elements within a compound. Calculating mass ratios is crucial for analyzing the composition of compounds formed in reactions, such as sodium oxide and sodium peroxide in this case.

Chemical Formula

A chemical formula represents the elements in a compound and their respective quantities. For example, sodium oxide is represented as Na2O, indicating that two sodium atoms combine with one oxygen atom. Understanding chemical formulas is vital for determining the composition of compounds and calculating mass ratios, as they provide the necessary information about the elements involved in the reaction.