Determining the Mass of Copper(II) Sulfate (CuSO4) Using Moles

Understanding how to calculate the mass of a substance based on its moles and molar mass is a crucial skill in chemistry. This article will walk you through the process of determining the mass of 0.7 moles of copper(II) sulfate (CuSO4). We'll start by breaking down the molecular structure of CuSO4, calculate its molar mass, and then use this information to find the mass for the given number of moles.

Step 1: Break Down the Molecular Formula

Copper(II) sulfate (CuSO4) consists of one copper atom (Cu), one sulfur atom (S), and four oxygen atoms (O). The atomic masses of these elements are as follows:

Copper (Cu): 63.55 g/mol Sulfur (S): 32.07 g/mol Oxygen (O): 16.00 g/mol (for 4 oxygen atoms)

Step 2: Calculate the Molar Mass

To find the molar mass of CuSO4, we need to add up the atomic masses of each element according to the molecular formula:

[text{Molar Mass of CuSO}4 63.55 32.07 4 times 16.00 63.55 32.07 64.00 159.62 , text{g/mol} ]

Step 3: Calculate the Mass of Copper(II) Sulfate

Now that we have the molar mass, we can use the formula for mass calculation, which is given by:

[ text{Mass} text{Number of moles} times text{Molar mass} ]

Substituting the values for 0.7 moles of CuSO4:

[ text{Mass} 0.7 , text{moles} times 159.62 , text{g/mol} 111.734 , text{g} ]

Rounding to one significant figure, the mass of 0.7 moles of copper(II) sulfate is approximately 112 g.

Verification and Precision

It's important to note that the molar mass of copper(II) sulfate can vary slightly due to the precision of atomic weights and rounding. However, the commonly accepted value is 159.60 g/mol. Using this value:

[ text{Molar mass of CuSO}4 63.546 , text{g/mol} , text{Cu} 32.06 , text{g/mol} , text{S} 4 times 15.999 , text{g/mol} , text{O} 159.60 , text{g/mol} , text{CuSO}4 ]

And for 0.7 moles:

[ text{Mass} 0.7 , text{moles} times 159.60 , text{g/mol} 111.72 , text{g} , text{rounded to 112 g} ]

Conclusion and Applications

Knowing how to calculate the mass from moles and molar mass is essential in analytical chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and any field involving precise chemical analysis. Understanding these calculations helps in determining the quantity of reagents required for experiments or in formulating solutions with specific concentrations.