Chapter 10, Problem 201A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Whether trinitrotoluene, TNT, contains 21 atoms per mole or not needs to be determined. If not then correct number of atoms per mol needs to be determined.

Concept introduction:

Trinitrotoluene is an explosive molecule in which there are three nitro groups at 2, 4, 6 positions with respect to toluene.

Answer to Problem 201A

Correct thing about the given statement is that there are 21 atoms in TNT.

Wrong thing regarding the given statement is that there are 21 atoms per mole of TNT.

The correct statement is there are 21 atoms per TNT molecule.

Explanation of Solution

There are Avogadro’s ( $\text{6}{\text{.023×10}}^{\text{23}}$ ) number of molecules per mole of TNT.

Now 1 TNT molecule contains 21 atoms.

So 1 mole TNT must contains $\text{21}\times \text{6}{\text{.023×10}}^{\text{23}}$ atoms.

Thus, statement for 21 atoms will be-

There are 21 atoms per TNT molecule.

Conclusion

There are 21 atoms per molecule of TNT.