In the given chemical equation:
Zn + CuSO₄ = ZnSO₄ + Cu
The equation represents a single displacement reaction where zinc (Zn) reacts with copper sulfate (CuSO₄) to form zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) and copper (Cu).
To determine the relative atomic mass of zinc (Zn), you need to consider the atomic masses of the elements involved and the stoichiometry of the reaction.
The atomic mass of copper (Cu) is approximately 63.55 atomic mass units (u). Since there is one atom of copper on each side of the equation, its mass remains the same.
Now, let's analyze the zinc side of the equation. Since the coefficient of Zn is 1, the relative atomic mass of zinc can be found by comparing the mass of zinc to the mass of copper.
Using the equation, the relative atomic mass of zinc can be calculated as follows:
Relative atomic mass of zinc = (Mass of copper × Number of zinc atoms) / Mass of zinc
Relative atomic mass of zinc = (63.55 u × 1) / Mass of zinc
Now, we need to calculate the mass of zinc using the equation:
Mass of zinc + Mass of copper sulfate = Mass of zinc sulfate + Mass of copper
Since the atomic masses of sulfur (S) and oxygen (O) are known, we can calculate the mass of copper sulfate (CuSO₄) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄).
Let's assume the atomic mass of sulfur (S) is approximately 32.07 u, and the atomic mass of oxygen (O) is approximately 16.00 u.
Mass of copper sulfate = Mass of Cu + Mass of S + 4 × Mass of O = 63.55 u + 32.07 u + (4 × 16.00 u) = 159.55 u
Mass of zinc sulfate = Mass of Zn + Mass of S + 4 × Mass of O = Mass of Zn + 32.07 u + (4 × 16.00 u) = Mass of Zn + 88.07 u
Substituting these values into the mass equation:
Mass of zinc + 159.55 u = Mass of zinc + 88.07 u + 63.55 u
Simplifying the equation:
159.55 u = 151.62 u + Mass of zinc
Mass of zinc = 159.55 u - 151.62 u = 7.93 u
Now, substituting the calculated mass of zinc into the relative atomic mass equation:
Relative atomic mass of zinc = (63.55 u × 1) / 7.93 u ≈ 8.01
Therefore, the relative atomic mass of zinc in the given equation is approximately 8.01 atomic mass units (u).