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Ch.6 - Gases
Chapter 6, Problem 69

The zinc in a copper-plated penny will dissolve in hydrochloric acid if the copper coating is filed down in several spots (so that the hydrochloric acid can get to the zinc). The reaction between the acid and the zinc is 2 H+(aq) + Zn(s) → H2(g) + Zn2+(aq). When the zinc in a certain penny dissolves, the total volume of gas collected over water at 25 °C is 0.951 L at a total pressure of 748 mmHg. What mass of hydrogen gas is collected?

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1
Identify the reaction: \(2 \text{H}^+ (\text{aq}) + \text{Zn}(\text{s}) \rightarrow \text{H}_2(\text{g}) + \text{Zn}^{2+}(\text{aq})\).
Use the ideal gas law \(PV = nRT\) to find the number of moles of \(\text{H}_2\) gas. Remember to convert the pressure to atm and the volume to liters.
Adjust the pressure for the vapor pressure of water at 25 °C, which is 23.8 mmHg. Subtract this from the total pressure to get the pressure of the \(\text{H}_2\) gas.
Convert the temperature from Celsius to Kelvin by adding 273.15 to the Celsius temperature.
Calculate the mass of \(\text{H}_2\) using the number of moles from the ideal gas law and the molar mass of hydrogen gas (2.02 g/mol).

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Key Concepts

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

Gas Laws

Gas laws describe the behavior of gases in relation to pressure, volume, and temperature. The ideal gas law, PV = nRT, relates these variables, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is temperature in Kelvin. Understanding these relationships is crucial for calculating the amount of gas produced in a chemical reaction.
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Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry involves the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on balanced equations. It allows us to determine the amount of substances consumed and produced, using mole ratios derived from the balanced chemical equation. In this case, stoichiometry helps relate the moles of hydrogen gas produced to the moles of zinc that reacted.
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Collecting Gas Over Water

When gas is collected over water, the total pressure measured includes the vapor pressure of water. To find the pressure of the gas alone, the vapor pressure of water at the given temperature must be subtracted from the total pressure. This adjustment is essential for accurate calculations of the gas volume and subsequent mass determination.
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