how would i find the number of zinc atoms on a sheet of galvanized steel?

Question

I need to design a chemistry experiment that will tell me how many zinc atoms i have on one side of a piece of galvanized steel. I know that it involves HCl (hydrochloric acid) but i'm not sure what to do with the acid, nor how to calculate the number of atoms.

Answer 1

Cut up some steel into small piecies.
Weight out a set amoult of the steel, say 1 g.
Add a set amoult of the HCl acid and stir untill the steel dissiloves.
Now do a titiration using a base of set molarity.

Now the maths part
Zn + 2HCl -> ZnCl + 2HX
X is a countion
So for one mole of Zn in the solution will react with 2 moles of HCl
So using the amoult of HCl and the molarity you can work out the number of moles of HCl you have in your solution.
Lets call this A

How for the tiratation

HCl + NaOH -. NaCl + H2O

So one mole of NaOH reacts with one mole of NaOH
Work out the number of moles of HCl left in the zinc solution
By using the volume of NaOH and the morality of it.
Call his B

Now the number of Moles of HCl the Zn has reacted with is
A - B

Call this C

As Zn reacts with 2 moles of HCl there are
C/2 moles of Zn in the solution.
Call this D

From where you can work out the number of atoms in the zinc By using D x arggavios contant (sp) to give you the number of
atoms in your sample.

Now share the number of atoms in your sample by the weight you using in forming your sample will give you the atoms per gram.
Now times this final number by the weight of the starting piece of steel and you have your number of atoms.

Answer 2

Count them VERY carefully.