IChO 2003 · Theory problem 4

Number of molecules in a liquid

If the density of a liquid compound B is \(\rho\) (in \(\mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}\)), \(M\) is the molar mass of B and \(N_A\) is the Avogadro constant, then the number of molecules of B in \(1\ \mathrm{dm^3}\) of this compound is:

(a) \((1000\times\rho)/(M\times N_A)\) ( )

(b) \((1000\times\rho\times N_A)/M\) ( )

(c) \((N_A\times\rho)/(M\times1000)\) ( )

(d) \((N_A\times\rho\times M)/1000\) ( )

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 4. (b) \(\displaystyle N=\frac{1000\rho N_A}{M}\) molecules. Mark the box beside (b); leave the other boxes blank.

Solution

The volume is \[ V=1\ \mathrm{dm^3}=1000\ \mathrm{cm^3}. \]

The mass of the liquid is \(m=\rho V\), and its amount of substance is \[ n=\frac{m}{M}=\frac{\rho V}{M}. \]

Multiplying the amount of substance by the Avogadro constant gives the number of molecules: \[ N=nN_A=\frac{\rho V N_A}{M}. \]

With \(\rho\) expressed in \(\mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}}\), \(M\) in \(\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), and \(N_A\) in \(\mathrm{mol^{-1}}\), substitution yields \[ \boxed{N=\frac{1000\rho N_A}{M}}. \]

The units cancel as required for a count: \[ \frac{(\mathrm{g\,cm^{-3}})(\mathrm{cm^3})} {\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}}\,\mathrm{mol^{-1}}=1. \]

Therefore, (b) is correct.

The answers were checked against the official answers published by the organisers.