To determine the number of moles in a given mass of magnesium (Mg), we need to use the concept of molar mass. The molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, given in grams per mole (g/mol).
Here's a detailed, step-by-step solution to find the number of moles in 0.55 grams of magnesium:
1. Identify the given values:
- The mass of magnesium ([tex]\( m \)[/tex]) is 0.55 grams.
- The molar mass of magnesium ([tex]\( M \)[/tex]) is 24.305 grams per mole. This value is typically found on the periodic table.
2. Use the formula for moles:
The number of moles ([tex]\( n \)[/tex]) can be calculated using the formula:
[tex]\[
n = \frac{m}{M}
\][/tex]
Where:
- [tex]\( n \)[/tex] is the number of moles,
- [tex]\( m \)[/tex] is the mass of the substance in grams,
- [tex]\( M \)[/tex] is the molar mass of the substance in grams per mole.
3. Substitute the given values into the formula:
[tex]\[
n = \frac{0.55 \text{ grams}}{24.305 \text{ grams per mole}}
\][/tex]
4. Calculate the number of moles:
Perform the division to find the number of moles:
[tex]\[
n \approx 0.02262908866488377
\][/tex]
Therefore, 0.55 grams of magnesium is approximately 0.0226 moles.
