Calculate the number of equivalents in each of the following:
d. 3 moles of CO₃^2–

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of equivalents: In chemistry, an equivalent is the amount of a substance that reacts with or supplies one mole of hydrogen ions (H⁺) or electrons in a reaction. For ions, the number of equivalents is determined by multiplying the number of moles by the absolute value of the ion's charge.
2. Identify the charge of the ion: The carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) has a charge of -2. This means each mole of CO₃²⁻ can provide 2 equivalents.
3. Write the formula to calculate the number of equivalents: The number of equivalents is given by the equation: $\mathrm{Equivalents}=\mathrm{moles}\times \left|\mathrm{charge}\right|$
4. Substitute the given values into the formula: Here, the number of moles is 3, and the absolute value of the charge is 2. Substitute these values into the formula: $\mathrm{Equivalents}=3\times 2$
5. Perform the multiplication to determine the total number of equivalents. This will give you the final result.

Key Concepts

Moles

A mole is a unit in chemistry that represents a specific quantity of particles, typically atoms or molecules. One mole is defined as 6.022 x 10²³ entities, known as Avogadro's number. Understanding moles is essential for converting between the mass of a substance and the number of particles it contains, which is crucial for stoichiometric calculations.

Equivalents

In chemistry, an equivalent is a measure that relates to the reactive capacity of a substance. It is defined as the amount of a substance that can react with or supply one mole of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in a reaction. The concept of equivalents is particularly important in acid-base chemistry and redox reactions, where it helps quantify the amount of reactants needed.

Charge of Ions

The charge of an ion indicates its electrical state, which is crucial for understanding its reactivity and interactions in chemical reactions. For example, CO₃²⁻ (carbonate ion) has a charge of -2, meaning it can react with two moles of H⁺ ions. This charge influences how many equivalents of the ion are present in a given number of moles, impacting calculations in stoichiometry.