Ranking the Molecules by Mass

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 101 views

Introduction

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound composed of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. It is a common household chemical used for various purposes, including cleaning and disinfecting. However, in the context of this article, we will be focusing on the isotopic variations of hydrogen peroxide, specifically the molecules listed below:

$T_2^{18} O_2$
$D_2^{16} O^{17} O$
$D_2^{16} O_2$
$H_2^{17} O_2$
$D_2^{18} O_2$
$H_2^{18} O_2$
$H_2^{16} O^{17} O$

Our goal is to rank these molecules from highest to lowest mass. To achieve this, we need to calculate the atomic masses of each molecule and then compare them.

Atomic Mass Calculations

To calculate the atomic mass of each molecule, we need to know the atomic masses of the individual atoms involved. The atomic masses of the atoms are as follows:

Hydrogen (H): 1.00794 u
Deuterium (D): 2.01410 u
Oxygen-16 (O-16): 15.99491 u
Oxygen-17 (O-17): 16.99913 u
Oxygen-18 (O-18): 17.99916 u

Now, let's calculate the atomic mass of each molecule:

$T_2^{18} O_2$

2 x T (Tritium): 2 x 1.00794 u = 2.01588 u
1 x O-18: 17.99916 u
2 x O: 2 x 15.99491 u = 31.98982 u

Total atomic mass: 2.01588 u + 17.99916 u + 31.98982 u = 51.00486 u

$D_2^{16} O^{17} O$

2 x D: 2 x 2.01410 u = 4.02820 u
1 x O-16: 15.99491 u
1 x O-17: 16.99913 u

Total atomic mass: 4.02820 u + 15.99491 u + 16.99913 u = 36.02224 u

$D_2^{16} O_2$

2 x D: 2 x 2.01410 u = 4.02820 u
2 x O-16: 2 x 15.99491 u = 31.98982 u

Total atomic mass: 4.02820 u + 31.98982 u = 35.01802 u

$H_2^{17} O_2$

2 x H: 2 x 1.00794 u = 2.01588 u
1 x O-17: 16.99913 u
2 x O: 2 x 15.99491 u = 31.98982 u

Total atomic mass: 2.01588 u + 16.99913 u + 31.98982 u = 50.00483 u

$D_2^{18} O_2$

2 x D: 2 x 2.01410 u = 4.02820 u
2 x O-18: 2 x 17.99916 u = 35.99832 u

Total atomic mass: 4.02820 u + 35.99832 u = 40.02652 u

$H_2^{18} O_2$

2 x H: 2 x 1.00794 u = 2.01588 u
2 x O-18: 2 x 17.99916 u = 35.99832 u

Total atomic mass: 2.01588 u + 35.99832 u = 38.01420 u

$H_2^{16} O^{17} O$

2 x H: 2 x 1.00794 u = 2.01588 u
1 x O-16: 15.99491 u
1 x O-17: 16.99913 u

Total atomic mass: 2.01588 u + 15.99491 u + 16.99913 u = 34.00992 u

Ranking the Molecules by Mass

Now that we have calculated the atomic masses of each molecule, we can rank them from highest to lowest mass:

$T_2^{18} O_2$ : 51.00486 u
$H_2^{17} O_2$ : 50.00483 u
$D_2^{16} O^{17} O$ : 36.02224 u
$D_2^{16} O_2$ : 35.01802 u
$D_2^{18} O_2$ : 40.02652 u
$H_2^{18} O_2$ : 38.01420 u
$H_2^{16} O^{17} O$ : 34.00992 u

However, upon reviewing the list, we notice that $D_2^{18} O_2$ has a higher mass than $H_2^{17} O_2$ . Therefore, the corrected ranking is:

$T_2^{18} O_2$ : 51.00486 u
$H_2^{17} O_2$ : 50.00483 u
$D_2^{18} O_2$ : 40.02652 u
$D_2^{16} O^{17} O$ : 36.02224 u
$H_2^{18} O_2$ : 38.01420 u
$D_2^{16} O_2$ : 35.01802 u
$H_2^{16} O^{17} O$ : 34.00992 u

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have successfully ranked the hydrogen peroxide molecules from highest to lowest mass. The correct ranking is:

$T_2^{18} O_2$ : 51.00486 u
$H_2^{17} O_2$ : 50.00483 u
$D_2^{18} O_2$ : 40.02652 u
$D_2^{16} O^{17} O$ : 36.02224 u
$H_2^{18} O_2$ : 38.01420 u
$D_2^{16} O_2$ : 35.01802 u
$H_2^{16} O^{17} O$ : 34.00992 u

Frequently Asked Questions

In this article, we will address some of the most common questions related to the hydrogen peroxide molecules we discussed earlier.

Q: What is the difference between $T_2^{18} O_2$ and $H_2^{17} O_2$ ?

A: The main difference between $T_2^{18} O_2$ and $H_2^{17} O_2$ is the presence of tritium (T) in the former and hydrogen (H) in the latter. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with a mass of 3.01605 u, while hydrogen has a mass of 1.00794 u. This difference in mass results in $T_2^{18} O_2$ having a higher mass than $H_2^{17} O_2$ .

Q: Why is $D_2^{18} O_2$ ranked third in the list?

A: $D_2^{18} O_2$ is ranked third because it has a higher mass than $D_2^{16} O^{17} O$ and $H_2^{18} O_2$ , but a lower mass than $T_2^{18} O_2$ and $H_2^{17} O_2$ . This is due to the presence of two deuterium atoms and two oxygen-18 atoms, which contribute to its higher mass.

Q: What is the significance of the atomic masses of the individual atoms?

A: The atomic masses of the individual atoms are crucial in calculating the total atomic mass of each molecule. By knowing the atomic masses of hydrogen, deuterium, oxygen-16, oxygen-17, and oxygen-18, we can accurately calculate the total atomic mass of each molecule and rank them from highest to lowest mass.

Q: Can you explain the concept of isotopes and their relevance to this article?

A: Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. This results in different atomic masses. In this article, we discussed the isotopes of hydrogen (tritium and deuterium) and oxygen (oxygen-16, oxygen-17, and oxygen-18). The presence of these isotopes affects the atomic masses of the molecules and, consequently, their ranking.

Q: How do the atomic masses of the molecules relate to their physical properties?

A: The atomic masses of the molecules are related to their physical properties, such as boiling point, melting point, and density. Molecules with higher atomic masses tend to have higher boiling points and melting points due to the stronger intermolecular forces between the atoms. However, this is a complex topic, and the relationship between atomic mass and physical properties is not always straightforward.

Q: Can you provide more information on the applications of hydrogen peroxide molecules?

A: Hydrogen peroxide molecules have various applications in chemistry, including:

Cleaning and disinfecting
Oxidation reactions
Synthesis of other compounds
Medical applications, such as wound cleaning and treatment

The specific applications of each molecule depend on its properties and reactivity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this Q&A article has addressed some of the most common questions related to the hydrogen peroxide molecules we discussed earlier. We hope this information has been helpful in understanding the properties and applications of these molecules.