What is the mass of $CO_2$ in atomic mass units?
A. 22 amu
B. 12 amu
C. 28 amu
D. 44 amu
Answer (1)
Determine the atomic masses of carbon (C) and oxygen (O): C is approximately 12 amu, and O is approximately 16 amu.
Calculate the mass of C O 2 by adding the atomic mass of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms: C O 2 = 12 + 2 ( 16 ) .
Perform the calculation: 12 + 2 ( 16 ) = 12 + 32 = 44 .
The mass of C O 2 is 44 amu, so the final answer is 44 amu .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We want to find the mass of a carbon dioxide molecule ( C O 2 ) in atomic mass units (amu). We know that a carbon dioxide molecule consists of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. Therefore, we need to add the atomic mass of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms to find the total mass of the molecule.
Calculating the Mass of CO2 The atomic mass of carbon (C) is approximately 12 amu, and the atomic mass of oxygen (O) is approximately 16 amu. Therefore, the mass of a C O 2 molecule is calculated as follows: C O 2 = 1 × mass of C + 2 × mass of O C O 2 = 1 × 12 amu + 2 × 16 amu C O 2 = 12 amu + 32 amu C O 2 = 44 amu
Selecting the Correct Option The mass of the C O 2 molecule is 44 amu. Comparing this result with the given options, we find that option D matches our calculated mass.
Final Answer Therefore, the mass of C O 2 in atomic mass units is 44 amu.
Examples
Understanding the mass of molecules like C O 2 is crucial in various fields. For example, in chemistry, it helps in stoichiometric calculations to determine the amount of reactants and products in a chemical reaction. In environmental science, knowing the mass of C O 2 is essential for calculating greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change. In everyday life, this concept helps us understand the composition of the air we breathe and the gases involved in processes like combustion and respiration.
