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Sarah measures out 151 grams of [tex]$SO_2$[/tex]. How many moles is this? Express your answer to three significant figures.

151 grams of [tex]$SO_2$[/tex] is equal to [tex]\square[/tex] moles.

Answer :

To find out how many moles of [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] are in 151 grams, you need to use the concept of molar mass. Here's a step-by-step guide to finding the number of moles.

1. Determine the Molar Mass of [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex]:

- The molar mass of sulfur (S) is approximately 32.07 grams per mole.
- The molar mass of oxygen (O) is approximately 16.00 grams per mole.
- Since [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] contains one sulfur atom and two oxygen atoms, its molar mass is:
[tex]\[
\text{Molar mass of } SO_2 = 32.07 + 2 \times 16.00 = 64.07 \text{ grams per mole}
\][/tex]

2. Use the Formula for Moles:

You can find the number of moles by using the formula:
[tex]\[
\text{moles} = \frac{\text{mass in grams}}{\text{molar mass in grams per mole}}
\][/tex]

3. Calculate the Number of Moles:

Substitute the given mass and molar mass into the formula:
[tex]\[
\text{moles of } SO_2 = \frac{151 \text{ grams}}{64.07 \text{ grams per mole}}
\][/tex]

- Calculation:
[tex]\[
\frac{151}{64.07} \approx 2.357
\][/tex]

4. Express the Answer to Three Significant Figures:

The number of moles of [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] is approximately 2.357 when rounded to three significant figures.

So, 151 grams of [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] is equal to approximately 2.357 moles.