To determine the number of atoms of hydrogen present in 16 grams of methane (CH4), we need to calculate the moles of methane and then multiply that by the number of hydrogen atoms per molecule.
The molar mass of methane (CH4) is calculated as follows: Carbon (C) has a molar mass of 12.01 g/mol. Hydrogen (H) has a molar mass of 1.01 g/mol. So, the molar mass of methane (CH4) is: (12.01 g/mol) + 4 * (1.01 g/mol) = 16.05 g/mol.
To calculate the number of moles of methane in 16 grams, we divide the mass by the molar mass: 16 g / 16.05 g/mol = 0.996 mol (approximately).
Since there are four hydrogen atoms in each molecule of methane, the number of hydrogen atoms in 0.996 moles of methane is: 0.996 mol * 4 atoms/mol = 3.984 atoms (approximately).
Therefore, there are approximately 3.984 atoms of hydrogen present in 16 grams of methane.