College

The atomic mass of potassium is 39.1. What is the mass of [tex]$6.02 \times 10^{23}$[/tex] atoms of potassium?

A. [tex] \quad 39.1 \, \text{mg}[/tex]

B. [tex] \quad 39.1 \, \text{g}[/tex]

C. [tex] \quad 39.1 \, \text{kg}[/tex]

D. [tex] \quad 6.02 \times 39.1 \, \text{mg}[/tex]

E. [tex] \quad 6.02 \times 39.1 \, \text{g}[/tex]

Answer :

To find the mass of [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms of potassium, you'll need to understand how atomic mass and Avogadro's number work together.

1. Understand Atomic Mass: The atomic mass of potassium is given as 39.1 grams per mole. This means that one mole of potassium atoms, which is [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms (Avogadro's number), weighs 39.1 grams.

2. Relate Atoms to Moles: When you're asked for the mass of [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms of potassium, you're essentially being asked for the mass of one mole of potassium atoms. This is because [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms is the definition of a mole.

3. Calculate the Mass: Since one mole of potassium atoms has a mass of 39.1 grams, and the problem asks for the mass of exactly one mole of potassium ([tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms), the answer is just the atomic mass expressed in grams.

Therefore, the mass of [tex]\(6.02 \times 10^{23}\)[/tex] atoms of potassium is 39.1 grams.

The answer is:
B. 39.1 g