Citric acid is found in citrus fruit,such as lemons and limes.If the formula is C₃H₄OH(COOH)3,what is the number of atoms in one molecule?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

- The formula for citric acid is C₃H₄OH(COOH)3
- To find the total number of atoms in one molecule, we need to count the atoms of each element present in the formula and then add them up.
- C₃ means there are 3 carbon atoms
- H₄ means there are 4 hydrogen atoms
- O means there are 3 oxygen atoms in the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups combined, and 3 more in the COOH groups for a total of 6 oxygen atoms.
- Adding them up, we get 3+4+6=13
- But we have to remember that the (COOH)3 group is repeated thrice in the formula, so we need to multiply the counts for the COO and OH groups by 3 as well.
- COO means there are 2 oxygen atoms present in each such group (there are 3 such groups), so that's 2*3*3=18 oxygen atoms in total.
- OH means there are 1 oxygen and 1 hydrogen atom present in each such group (there are 3 such groups), so that's 2*3*3=18 oxygen and hydrogen atoms in total.
- Adding these to the counts for carbon and hydrogen, we get 3+18+18+4=43 atoms in one molecule.
- However, we have to keep in mind that we have counted some atoms twice (the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in the OH groups are a part of both COOH groups they are attached to) so we need to subtract the count of these double-counted atoms which means we have 43 - (3*2) = 37. Hence, the correct answer is 21.

Citric Acid Is Found in Citrus Fruit,such as Lemons and Limes.If