Suppose that in your experiment you conducted in lab you neglected to account for pressure due to water vapor in your collected sample of hydrogen gas. How, if at all, would this affect your final value of atomic weight of the metal?

You don't describe the experiment and we have no way of knowing what you have done.

If you neglected to account for the pressure due to water vapor in your collected sample of hydrogen gas, it would indeed affect the calculation of the atomic weight of the metal. Here's how you can understand the impact and how to account for it:

1. Brief Background: The atomic weight of a metal is determined by measuring the mass of a known quantity of the metal and converting it to the number of atoms. The ideal gas law can be used to calculate the number of moles of a gas, such as hydrogen, by considering the pressure, volume, and temperature.

2. The Issue: Neglecting to account for the pressure of water vapor introduces a problem because water vapor can also contribute to the total pressure in the system. If this pressure is not accounted for, it would lead to an overestimation of the moles of hydrogen gas, affecting the calculation of atomic weight.

3. Correction Step: To account for the pressure of water vapor, you would need to subtract the partial pressure of water vapor from the total pressure in the system. This can be done by using the vapor pressure of water at the given temperature. The resulting corrected pressure would then be used in the ideal gas law equation.

4. Considerations: It's important to note that the impact on the final value of the atomic weight would depend on the magnitude of the water vapor pressure compared to the pressure of the hydrogen gas. If the pressure of water vapor is relatively small compared to the pressure of the hydrogen gas, the effect on the atomic weight determination might be negligible. However, if the water vapor pressure is significant, it could lead to a noticeable deviation in the final value.

5. Experimental Accuracy: It is advisable to always aim for accuracy in scientific experiments. To minimize potential errors, you should account for all relevant factors, including the pressure of water vapor, to obtain a more precise value for the atomic weight of the metal.

By taking into account the pressure of water vapor and properly correcting for it, you would ensure that your experiment yields a more accurate determination of the atomic weight of the metal.