Ammonium sulfate, (NH₄)₂SO₄, is used in fertilizers to provide nitrogen for the soil. (7.1, 7.2)b. How many H atoms are in 0.100 mole of ammonium sulfate?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula of ammonium sulfate: \((NH_4)_2SO_4\).
2. Determine the number of hydrogen atoms in one formula unit of ammonium sulfate. Each \(NH_4^+\) ion contains 4 hydrogen atoms, and there are 2 \(NH_4^+\) ions in the formula, so there are \(2 \times 4 = 8\) hydrogen atoms per formula unit.
3. Use Avogadro's number to find the number of formula units in 0.100 mole of ammonium sulfate. Avogadro's number is \(6.022 \times 10^{23}\) formula units per mole.
4. Calculate the total number of hydrogen atoms by multiplying the number of formula units by the number of hydrogen atoms per formula unit: \(0.100 \text{ mole} \times 6.022 \times 10^{23} \text{ formula units/mole} \times 8 \text{ H atoms/formula unit}\).
5. Simplify the expression to find the total number of hydrogen atoms in 0.100 mole of ammonium sulfate.

Key Concepts

Mole Concept

The mole is a fundamental unit in chemistry that quantifies the amount of substance. One mole contains approximately 6.022 x 10²³ entities, such as atoms or molecules. Understanding the mole concept allows chemists to convert between the mass of a substance and the number of particles it contains, which is essential for stoichiometric calculations.

Chemical Formula Interpretation

The chemical formula of a compound provides information about the types and numbers of atoms present. In ammonium sulfate, (NH₄)₂SO₄, the subscript '2' indicates that there are two ammonium ions (NH₄⁺), each containing four hydrogen atoms. Thus, interpreting the formula correctly is crucial for determining the total number of hydrogen atoms in a given amount of the compound.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the area of chemistry that deals with the relationships between the quantities of reactants and products in chemical reactions. It allows for the calculation of how much of each substance is involved in a reaction based on their molar ratios. In this case, stoichiometry helps in determining the number of hydrogen atoms in a specified amount of ammonium sulfate by using the mole ratio derived from its chemical formula.