Question

2. SEP Construct Written Arguments Use the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning framework to build a scientific argument about the relationship between molar mass and atomic number. After stating your claim, support it with evidence and scientific reasoning.
Make a Claim Your claim should be a response to the question stated above.
Cite Evidence Identify data or knowledge that support your claim.

Answers

Answered by GPT-4o mini
**Claim:** There is a positive correlation between molar mass and atomic number in elements, as higher atomic numbers generally correspond to higher molar masses.

**Evidence:**
1. The periodic table organizes elements in order of increasing atomic number, which corresponds to the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. For example, hydrogen (atomic number 1) has a molar mass of approximately 1.01 g/mol, while iron (atomic number 26) has a molar mass of about 55.85 g/mol, and uranium (atomic number 92) has a molar mass of approximately 238.03 g/mol.
2. As atomic number increases, elements typically have more protons and neutrons, contributing to an increase in molar mass. For instance, the isotopes of elements with higher atomic numbers tend to have more neutrons, which further increases their molar mass without a corresponding increase in atomic number.

**Reasoning:** The relationship between atomic number and molar mass can be attributed to the structure of the atom. Atomic number is defined by the number of protons in the nucleus, and since molar mass is calculated based on the total number of protons and neutrons, we expect that elements with higher atomic numbers will have more nucleons (protons plus neutrons). This is due to the general trend that as elements become heavier (higher atomic numbers), they also tend to accumulate more neutrons for stability. Consequently, the result is that we see a clear trend where elements with higher atomic numbers also exhibit correspondingly higher molar masses. This trend is consistent across the periodic table, supporting the claim that there is a positive correlation between molar mass and atomic number.
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