I'm using Zumdahl 7th Edition Chemistry Book and I'm having trouble with some practice problems in the first chapter.
Here are a few:
87: Sterling silver is a solid solution of silver and copper. If a piece of a sterling silver necklace has a mass of 105.0 g and a volume of 10.12 m, calculate the mass percent of copper in the piece of necklace. Assume that the volume of silver present plus the volume of copper present equals the total volume.
Mass percent of copper =(mass of copper/total mass ) x100
93: At the Amundsen-scott south pole base station in Antarctica, when the temperature is -100.0 degrees F, researchers there can join "300 club" by stepping into 200.0F sauna then quickly run outside, around South Pole. What are those temps in C? [MY QUESTION: I tried to convert -100.0 F into Celcius, but the amount of significant figures I came up with were 4 (73.33), while the back of my book came up with 3 (73.3) In K? If temps only in C and K, can you become member of 300 club? (degree difference = 300)
11 answers
The density of the alloy is 105.0/10.12 = 10.3755
the density of Ag is 10.501
the density of copper is 8.933
so, in 1 gram of alloy, if we have x g of copper,
10.501(1-x) + 8.933x = 10.375
x = 0.080
So, the alloy is 8% copper
Thanks for your help Steve
93. Google 300 club for a Wikipedia site to read about the 300 club. 300 club members have endured a change of 300 F (from 200 F to -100 F), To answer your question it is in F for the 300 degrees to be members of the 300 club. That is simply a matter of definition.
Do you have a question about 73.3?
With regard to Steve's answer for the Cu/Ag necklace:
let x = grams Cu
Then 105.0-x = g Ag
Volume Cu + volume Ag = total volume
Then (mass Cu/d Cu) + (mass Ag/d Ag) = 10.12 cc. Then you solve for x = g Cu, plug that into your mass % formula to find mass % Cu. Steve just left out a step or two and assumed that since you were in AP chem you would work through the steps he gave you to find his answer and then all would be clear.
(The book tells you to assume the volume statement is true because it generally is NOT true) but it makes it a lot easier to work the problem assuming it is true.
I'm sorry for my slowness, I'm actually learning from the textbook without any teacher guidance, so I can't ask a teacher except for online. Also, the answer in the book was 7.0% instead of 8%. Thank you both! I will try the process.