Are there different formats for writing the formulae maybe? Wikipedia seems to agree with the numbers = number of atoms theory.
Both are perfectly acceptable, and both will yield the same end result.
<-- Chemistry graduate
Are there different formats for writing the formulae maybe? Wikipedia seems to agree with the numbers = number of atoms theory.
writing an equation with 0.5 oxygen molecules is wrong
Both are perfectly acceptable, and both will yield the same end result.
<-- Chemistry graduate
ok so can you answer this please
2 C8H18 + 25 O2 = 18 H2O + 16 CO2
is it acceptable to write it as
C8H18 + 12.5 O2 = 9H20 + 8 CO2
apparently disco says using 0.5 is acceptable i say it isnt???
Well that's the thing. It's a form of notation. Both are valid with justification.
I can define real (i.e. not necessarily integer) values to indicate a part of a mol of said molecule. Then, with that understood, we can write 9.5 H2 or 12.5 O2, or even 3.1415 Cl2.
Equally, I could say that the notation refers to whole molecules and thus we are restricted to integer values. In that case, 12.5 O2 would make no sense, as we have not defined what .5 of an O2 molecule is.
Hmm, I'm pretty sure I didn't do it in Higher Chemistry, and I thought A levels were a notch down from Highers.
Perhaps educational standards are actually increasing, despite what the papers say.
Good luck with the question, sorry I can't help. The only thing that comes to mind about school chemistry is that those metal sharpeners burn great.
no its not, your not saying you've got .5 of a molecule of oxygen your talking about the number of moles.
I must have written the formula of the petrol down wrong and have redone the calculation and got 2444g CO2.
cheers for your help