Electric Charge in Water
Interactive Simulation
This simulation calculates the amount of positive and negative charge in a cup of water.
H⁺
O²⁻
H⁺
8.36 × 10²⁴ molecules
Positive Charge: +1.34 × 10⁷ C
Negative Charge: -1.34 × 10⁷ C
Calculation Steps
1. Number of moles:
13.89 moles = (250 g) / (18 g/mol)
2. Number of molecules:
8.36 × 10²⁴ = (13.89 moles) × (6.02 × 10²³ molecules/mol)
3. Charges per molecule:
10 protons (+1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C each) and 10 electrons (-1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C each)
4. Total charge:
(8.36 × 10²⁴ molecules) × (10 × 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C) = ±1.34 × 10⁷ C
Explanation
The example calculates the total positive and negative charge in a cup of water (250g).
Key Concepts:
Molecular Composition: Each water molecule (H₂O) contains:
- 2 hydrogen atoms (1 proton + 1 electron each)
- 1 oxygen atom (8 protons + 8 electrons)
- Total: 10 protons and 10 electrons per molecule
Avogadro's Number: 1 mole = 6.02 × 10²³ molecules
Elementary Charge: e = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C (charge of one proton or electron)
Calculation Steps:
- Calculate number of moles of water
- Multiply by Avogadro's number to get total molecules
- Multiply by 10 (charges per molecule) and elementary charge
- Result shows equal but opposite charges (±1.34 × 10⁷ C for 250g)
Note: While the total charge is enormous, water is electrically neutral because the positive and negative charges balance exactly.
