At standard temperature and pressure (STP), what volume would 3.01 × 10^{23} molecules of oxygen gas (O_2) occupy?

• A. 22.4 mL
• B. 22.4 L
• C. 11.2 mL
• D. 11.2 L

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the given information: the number of oxygen molecules is \$3.01 \times 10^{23}$ molecules, and the conditions are at standard temperature and pressure (STP).
2. Recall that at STP, 1 mole of any ideal gas occupies 22.4 liters of volume, and 1 mole contains Avogadro's number of molecules, which is \$6.02 \times 10^{23}$ molecules.
3. Calculate the number of moles of oxygen gas by dividing the given number of molecules by Avogadro's number: \(\text{moles} = \frac{3.01 \times 10^{23}}{6.02 \times 10^{23}}\).
4. Use the molar volume at STP to find the volume occupied by the gas: \(\text{volume} = \text{moles} \times 22.4\, \text{L}\).
5. Substitute the calculated moles into the volume equation to find the volume of oxygen gas at STP.