BTEC Lvl 3 Help - Chemicals Principles in Pharmacy

[batesy2000]

Hi all,

Currently have this work to do and I'm going wrong somewhere.
Question is : Show the following as chemical equations and then work out the weight in grams?

a. 1 mol of carbon dioxide CO2

Now by working it out a C + O2 = 12+(2x16) = 44

Seems too easy when it is a merit question with the critera saying - write balanced equations to solve problems involving mole/mass conversions.

What am I missing?

[JayEm]

Looks good to me.

The question is poorly worded; I think its asking you to show the chemical formula of carbon dioxide (which you've done) and then work out how much 1 mole of the gas weighs.

[johnep]

Correct. I used to use Calcium carbonate as an example as result is 100.
johnep

[batesy2000]

Thanks all, you're confirming what I initially thought - a badly worded question. Sadly I am encountering this quite a lot and it os causing me a few problems as I have no pharmacy background knowledge at all.

Thanks and Merry Xmas

[johnep]

In that case, you need to start at the very beginning 'a very good place to start'. The periodic table is the foundation of chemistry. Start reading one of the very many books and ask away here on anything you do not understand.
Taking CO2 as a start. Carbon is the most important element in the universe after hydrogen. Oxygen comes next. Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen make up life along with a few others. Calcium ranks highly as without it we would have no bones.

Calcium Carbonate is responsible for a large part of the world we live on and is under threat from increasing acidity of the oceans.
Obviously, I am a chemistry fanatic but very willing to explain to others. Pfizers motto used to be 'Better living through Chemistry'.
Dive in and have a ball!
johnep