Citric acid has the formula C3H3OH(COOH)3. How many atoms of carbon,hydrogen and oxygen are in each molecule?
Please help I don't understand this!! Thank you
Just looking at the formula
C3 H3 OH (COOH)*3
C = 3+3 = 6
H = 3+1+3 = 7
O = 1+6 = 7
To determine the number of atoms of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) in a molecule of citric acid (C3H3OH(COOH)3), we need to break down the formula and count the number of atoms for each element.
Let's analyze the formula step by step:
C3H3OH(COOH)3
First, we have:
C3 (3 carbon atoms)
H3 (3 hydrogen atoms)
Next, we have:
OH (1 oxygen atom and 1 hydrogen atom). However, in the molecule, there are two OH groups:
2(OH) = 2(1 oxygen atom and 1 hydrogen atom) = 2 oxygen atoms and 2 hydrogen atoms
Finally, we have:
(COOH)3 (1 carbon atom, 2 oxygen atoms, and 1 hydrogen atom). But there are three COOH groups:
3(COOH) = 3(1 carbon atom, 2 oxygen atoms, and 1 hydrogen atom) = 3 carbon atoms, 6 oxygen atoms, and 3 hydrogen atoms
Summing up all the atoms, we get:
Carbon (C): 3 atoms
Hydrogen (H): 3 atoms (from C3H3OH) + 3 atoms (from COOH groups) = 6 atoms
Oxygen (O): 2 atoms (from OH) + 6 atoms (from COOH groups) = 8 atoms
So, in each molecule of citric acid, there are 3 carbon atoms, 6 hydrogen atoms, and 8 oxygen atoms.