h2o ratio of 8:1?

Question

Im so lost, because I understand what a ratio is but I dont know what it means when they say that oxegen is in a 8.0:1 mass ratio with hydrogen. I think that means for every gram of hydrogen there is 8 grams of oxegen.

My textbook said that with this information we can conclude that with the h2o formula that oxegen atoms are in fact 16 (not 8) not times heavier than hydrogen.

I dont get it. I understand that for every gram of H there has to be 8 O. So with 2 grams of H there are 16 grams of O.

But how can oxegen be sixteen times one hydrogen atom when the ratio is 8:1? Shouldnt it oxegen only be 8 times the hydrogen.

Answer 1

water is H2O
Atomic weight of H = 1 g/mol( about )
Atomic weight of O = 16 g/mol
in water we have 2 H ==> 1 x 2 = 2
so in 1 mole we have 2 g of H and 16 g of O
the ratio between the masses of oxigen and hydrogen is :
16 / 2 or 8/1

Answer 2

Keep in mind that the formula for water is H2O.

That means 2 hydrogen atoms bonded together with one oxygen atom.

The mass of each hydrogen atom is 1
The mass of the oxygen atom is 16

So the total mass for water is 1x2=2 + 16 = 18.

The ration of oxygen mass to hydrogen is 16 / 2 = 8:1

Answer 3

H2O ,atomic mass,
(1+1) + (16)=18
2+16=18,,,,H2O,,
16(O) /2 (H) =8/1=8:1

.and the volumetric ratio is two (hydrogen)/one(oxygen) = 2/1 =2:1

Answer 4

'So with 2 grams of H there are 16 grams of O.'
This quote from your question is the answer. If you divide 2g by 2 it equals 1. If you divide 16 g by 2, answer 8.
Hence the ration O:H::8:1