The molecular formula of allicin, the compound responsible for the characteristic smell of garlic, is C₆H₁₀OS₂. (d) How many S atoms are present in 5.00 mg of allicin?

Verified step by step guidance

1. <Determine the molar mass of allicin by adding the atomic masses of all the atoms in the molecular formula C_6H_10OS_2.>
2. <Convert the mass of allicin from milligrams to grams by dividing by 1000.>
3. <Calculate the number of moles of allicin using the formula: \( \text{moles} = \frac{\text{mass in grams}}{\text{molar mass}} \).>
4. <Use the mole ratio from the molecular formula to find the number of moles of sulfur atoms. Since there are 2 sulfur atoms per molecule of allicin, multiply the moles of allicin by 2.>
5. <Convert the moles of sulfur atoms to the number of atoms using Avogadro's number \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) atoms/mole.>

Key Concepts

Molecular Formula

A molecular formula indicates the number and types of atoms in a molecule. For allicin, C6H10OS2, it shows there are 6 carbon (C) atoms, 10 hydrogen (H) atoms, 1 oxygen (O) atom, and 2 sulfur (S) atoms. Understanding the molecular formula is essential for determining the composition of a compound and calculating the number of specific atoms present in a given mass.

Molar Mass

The molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). To find the number of sulfur atoms in a sample, one must first calculate the molar mass of allicin by summing the atomic masses of all its constituent atoms. This value allows for conversions between mass and the number of moles, which is crucial for stoichiometric calculations.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the area of chemistry that deals with the relationships between the quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions. In this context, it involves using the mass of allicin to determine the number of moles present, and subsequently, the number of sulfur atoms based on the molecular formula. Mastery of stoichiometric principles is vital for solving problems related to the composition of chemical substances.