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Ch 18: Thermal Properties of Matter
Chapter 18, Problem 18

Oxygen (O2) has a molar mass of 32.0 g/mol. What is (g) How many oxygen molecules traveling at this speed are necessary to produce an average pressure of 1 atm?

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Identify the given values: Molar mass of O2 is 32.0 g/mol, and the desired pressure is 1 atm.
Recall the ideal gas law equation, which relates the pressure, volume, number of moles, and temperature of a gas: \(PV = nRT\), where P is the pressure, V is the volume, n is the number of moles, R is the gas constant, and T is the temperature.
Determine the volume and temperature conditions under which the pressure measurement is to be made, as these are necessary to use the ideal gas law. If not specified, assume standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP).
Calculate the number of moles (n) of oxygen gas required to achieve a pressure of 1 atm using the ideal gas law. Rearrange the formula to solve for n: \(n = \frac{PV}{RT}\).
Convert the number of moles of oxygen gas to the number of molecules by using Avogadro's number (\(6.022 \times 10^{23} \) molecules/mol). Multiply the number of moles by Avogadro's number to find the number of molecules: \(\text{Number of molecules} = n \times 6.022 \times 10^{23}\).

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Key Concepts

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

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). For oxygen (O2), the molar mass is 32.0 g/mol, which means that one mole of oxygen gas weighs 32 grams. This concept is crucial for converting between the mass of a substance and the number of molecules or moles present.
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Ideal Gas Law

The Ideal Gas Law is a fundamental equation in physics and chemistry that relates the pressure, volume, temperature, and number of moles of a gas. It is expressed as PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is temperature. This law helps in calculating how many molecules are needed to achieve a specific pressure under given conditions.
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Pressure and Molecules

Pressure is defined as the force exerted per unit area and is a key concept in understanding gas behavior. In the context of gases, pressure arises from the collisions of gas molecules with the walls of their container. To produce a specific pressure, such as 1 atm, a certain number of gas molecules must be present, which can be calculated using the Ideal Gas Law and the molar mass of the gas.
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