What is the mass (in grams) of 6.02 * 10^23 atoms of Carbon-12?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the given quantity: 6.02 \times 10^{23} atoms of Carbon-12.
2. Recognize that 6.02 \times 10^{23} atoms is Avogadro's number, which corresponds to 1 mole of atoms.
3. Understand that the molar mass of Carbon-12 is 12 grams per mole.
4. Use the relationship: mass = moles \times molar mass.
5. Calculate the mass by multiplying 1 mole of Carbon-12 by its molar mass, 12 grams per mole.

Key Concepts

Avogadro's Number

Avogadro's Number, approximately 6.02 x 10^23, is the number of atoms, molecules, or particles in one mole of a substance. This constant is fundamental in chemistry for converting between the number of particles and the amount of substance in moles, allowing for calculations involving atomic and molecular quantities.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). For Carbon-12, the molar mass is exactly 12 g/mol, which means one mole of Carbon-12 atoms has a mass of 12 grams. This concept is essential for determining the mass of a given number of atoms or molecules.

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 involved in reactions, including conversions between moles, mass, and number of particles, which is crucial for solving problems like the one presented.