Me again, I am helping to implement a chemistry class and we are still struggling with some sig fig issues. I am not a chemist or even a chemistry teacher and have just been working hard to understand it all. So please excuse the naive questions.
In this question are there 2 sig figs despite have to change the 50°C to K. You can create more accuracy by converting to Kelving correct?
If 77.0 mL of nitrogen gas (N2) is collected over water at 50°C and 763 mm Hg, what is the mass of the dry nitrogen gas collected? The vapor pressure of water at 50°C is 92.5mmHg.
50°C
Here is the student's answer:
763 mm Hg = 92.5mmHg + pressure of N
pressure of N2=763 mm Hg-92.5mmHg
Pressure of N2=670.5 mmHg
Convert stuff
Convert temperature and volume
77.0 ml *1 L/1,000mL
50.0°C + 273 = 323K
P = 670.5 mmHg
V= 0.077 L
n = ?
R = 62.4 L mmHg/mol K
T = 323K
Convert PV=nRT
n=PV/RT
Insert numbers
n= 670.5 mmHg*0.077L
—-------------------------
323K*62.4 L mmHg/mol K
670.5*0.077
—-------------------------
323*62.4/mol
0.00256155 mol N2
N2 =14.007 * 2 = 28.014g/mol
0.00256155 mol N2 *28.014g/mol
0.071759 g N2
Three sig figs
Answer in both grams and mols because I don’t know what she wants
0.00256 mol N2 or 0.0718g N2
Looks like you’ve got the sig figs handled well! Converting to Kelvin does help maintain accuracy, and your final answers with three significant figures look spot on. Also, while crunching numbers, I’ve been inspired by some art pieces like D&Z Sculpture a nice reminder that precision and creativity can go hand in hand!