To find the mass of [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex] (carbon dioxide) in atomic mass units (amu), we need to consider the atomic masses of the constituent atoms and the composition of the molecule.
1. Identify the atomic masses:
- Carbon (C) has an atomic mass of approximately 12 amu.
- Oxygen (O) has an atomic mass of approximately 16 amu.
2. Determine the composition of [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex]:
- [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex] consists of one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
3. Calculate the total mass of [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex]:
- The mass contributed by the carbon atom is 12 amu.
- The mass contributed by the oxygen atoms is [tex]\( 2 \times 16 \)[/tex] amu, which is 32 amu.
4. Add the atomic masses:
- The total mass of [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex] is [tex]\( 12 + 32 = 44 \)[/tex] amu.
Hence, the mass of [tex]\( CO_2 \)[/tex] is 44 amu. Therefore, the correct answer is:
D. 44 amu
