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Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements
Chapter 2, Problem 118

Common brass is a copper and zinc alloy containing 37.0% zinc by mass and having a density of 8.48 g/cm3. A fitting composed of common brass has a total volume of 112.5 cm3. How many atoms (copper and zinc) does the fitting contain?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Density and Mass-Volume Relationship

Density is defined as mass per unit volume, typically expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). To find the mass of a substance when its density and volume are known, the formula mass = density × volume can be used. In this case, knowing the density of brass allows us to calculate the total mass of the fitting from its given volume.
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Molar Mass and Composition of Alloys

An alloy's composition is crucial for determining its properties and behavior. Common brass, composed of copper and zinc, has specific molar masses (copper: 63.55 g/mol, zinc: 65.38 g/mol). By calculating the mass of each component based on the percentage by mass, we can find the number of moles of each metal in the fitting, which is essential for determining the number of atoms.
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Avogadro's Number

Avogadro's number, approximately 6.022 × 10²³, is the number of atoms or molecules in one mole of a substance. This constant allows us to convert moles of a substance into the actual number of atoms. After calculating the moles of copper and zinc in the fitting, we can use Avogadro's number to find the total number of atoms present in the brass fitting.
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