Which of the following samples contains the greatest number of atoms?

  • A. 1 mole of helium gas
  • B. 1 mole of oxygen gas, O2
  • C. 1 mole of water, H2O
  • D. 1 mole of ammonia, NH3

Explanation

Every sample contains one mole of molecules, so the answer depends on the number of atoms in each molecule: helium has one, oxygen two, water three and ammonia four. One mole of ammonia therefore contains 4 x 6.02 x 10^23 atoms, more than any of the others. Confusing moles of molecules with moles of atoms is exactly the error this question is designed to expose.

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