Two liters of nitrogen combine with 6 L of hydrogen to form 4 L of ammonia. If the molecules of nitrogen and hydrogen have two atoms each, how many atoms of hydrogen and nitrogen are there in one molecule of ammonia?
To determine the number of atoms of nitrogen and hydrogen in one molecule of ammonia, we need to use the given information and the Avogadro's law.
First, let's find the number of moles of nitrogen, hydrogen, and ammonia using their respective volumes.
Volume of nitrogen = 2 L
Volume of hydrogen = 6 L
Volume of ammonia = 4 L
According to Avogadro's law, equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain an equal number of molecules.
Since nitrogen and hydrogen react to form ammonia, the ratio of their volumes represents the ratio of their moles.
Volume of nitrogen / Volume of ammonia = Moles of nitrogen / Moles of ammonia
2 L / 4 L = Moles of nitrogen / Moles of ammonia
0.5 = Moles of nitrogen / Moles of ammonia --(1)
Similarly,
Volume of hydrogen / Volume of ammonia = Moles of hydrogen / Moles of ammonia
6 L / 4 L = Moles of hydrogen / Moles of ammonia
1.5 = Moles of hydrogen / Moles of ammonia --(2)
From equation (1), we can rearrange it to find the number of moles of nitrogen:
Moles of nitrogen = 0.5 * Moles of ammonia
From equation (2), we can rearrange it to find the number of moles of hydrogen:
Moles of hydrogen = 1.5 * Moles of ammonia
Now, we need to find the relationship between the number of moles and the number of atoms.
In one molecule of ammonia, we have one atom of nitrogen (N) and three atoms of hydrogen (H₃).
Therefore, the number of atoms of nitrogen in one molecule of ammonia is equal to:
1 * (number of moles of nitrogen) = 1 * (0.5 * Moles of ammonia)
And the number of atoms of hydrogen in one molecule of ammonia is equal to:
3 * (number of moles of hydrogen) = 3 * (1.5 * Moles of ammonia)
Since the moles of ammonia are not given in the question, we can define them as x (arbitrary value).
Therefore, the number of atoms of nitrogen in one molecule of ammonia is:
1 * (0.5 * x) = 0.5x atoms
And the number of atoms of hydrogen in one molecule of ammonia is:
3 * (1.5 * x) = 4.5x atoms
In conclusion, in one molecule of ammonia, there are 0.5x atoms of nitrogen and 4.5x atoms of hydrogen (where x represents the number of moles of ammonia).