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How to find the mass of hydrogen atoms?

Published in Atomic Mass 3 mins read

To find the mass of hydrogen atoms, you need to understand the concept of molar mass and Avogadro's number. The provided YouTube video explains how to calculate the mass of one hydrogen atom, which we can build upon.

Understanding the Basics

  • Molar Mass: The molar mass of an element is the mass of one mole of that element, expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). The molar mass of hydrogen (H) is approximately 1 gram per mole.
  • Avogadro's Number: Avogadro's number (approximately 6.022 x 1023) is the number of atoms, molecules, or ions in one mole of a substance.

Calculating the Mass of a Single Hydrogen Atom

Here's how to calculate the mass of a single hydrogen atom, as explained in the video's transcript:

  1. Start with Molar Mass: You know that 1 mole of hydrogen atoms has a mass of about 1 gram. This can be expressed as 1 g / 1 mol H.

  2. Incorporate Avogadro's Number: Recognize that 1 mole contains approximately 6.022 x 1023 atoms (Avogadro's number).

  3. Set Up the Calculation: To find the mass of one atom, divide the molar mass by Avogadro's number:

    Mass of one H atom = (1 g / 1 mol H) / (6.022 x 1023 atoms / 1 mol H)

  4. Perform the Calculation: Moles cancel out in the division, and you are left with grams per atom. When you do the math, you get:

    Mass of one H atom ≈ 1.66 x 10-24 grams

Summary

The table below summarizes the process of calculating the mass of a single hydrogen atom:

Step Action Value/Expression
1. Molar mass of Hydrogen Recognize the molar mass of hydrogen 1 g/mol
2. Avogadro's number Identify Avogadro's number (number of atoms in 1 mole) 6.022 x 1023 atoms/mol
3. Calculation Divide molar mass by Avogadro's number to get the mass of a single hydrogen atom (1 g / 1 mol H) / (6.022 x 1023 atoms / 1 mol H)
4. Result Calculate the result, which is mass of one H atom Approximately 1.66 x 10-24 grams

Therefore, the mass of one hydrogen atom is approximately 1.66 x 10-24 grams. The video explains that the process involves using Avogadro's number to convert moles to individual particles and ensuring that units cancel out properly during the calculation.

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