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Ch.2 - Atoms & Elements
Tro - Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 4th Edition
Tro4th EditionChemistry: A Molecular ApproachISBN: 9780134112831Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTro 4th EditionCh.2 - Atoms & ElementsProblem 96
Chapter 2, Problem 96

The ratio of sulfur to oxygen by mass in SO2 is 1.0:1.0. a. Find the ratio of sulfur to oxygen by mass in SO3. b. Find the ratio of sulfur to oxygen by mass in S2O.

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Determine the molar mass of sulfur (S) and oxygen (O). Sulfur has a molar mass of approximately 32 g/mol, and oxygen has a molar mass of approximately 16 g/mol.
Calculate the molar mass of SO3. Since SO3 consists of one sulfur atom and three oxygen atoms, its molar mass is the sum of the molar mass of one sulfur atom and three oxygen atoms.
Find the mass ratio of sulfur to oxygen in SO3 by dividing the mass of sulfur in one mole of SO3 by the mass of oxygen in one mole of SO3.
Calculate the molar mass of S2O. Since S2O consists of two sulfur atoms and one oxygen atom, its molar mass is the sum of the molar masses of two sulfur atoms and one oxygen atom.
Find the mass ratio of sulfur to oxygen in S2O by dividing the mass of sulfur in one mole of S2O by the mass of oxygen in one mole of S2O.

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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). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in a molecule. For example, the molar mass of SO2 is approximately 64.07 g/mol, derived from the atomic masses of sulfur (32.07 g/mol) and oxygen (16.00 g/mol). Understanding molar mass is essential for determining mass ratios in chemical compounds.
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Mass Ratio

The mass ratio of elements in a compound is the ratio of the mass of one element to the mass of another element within that compound. This ratio can be derived from the molar masses of the elements involved. For instance, in SO2, the mass ratio of sulfur to oxygen is 32.07 g (S) to 32.00 g (O), simplifying to 1:1. This concept is crucial for comparing the proportions of elements in different compounds.
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Chemical Formula Interpretation

A chemical formula provides information about the types and numbers of atoms in a molecule. For example, SO3 indicates one sulfur atom and three oxygen atoms, while S2O indicates two sulfur atoms and one oxygen atom. Understanding how to interpret these formulas allows for the calculation of mass ratios and helps in predicting the behavior of compounds in chemical reactions.
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