Question: How many electrons flow through a metallic wire if a current of 0.5 A is passed for 2 hours? (Given: 1F= 96,500 C/mol)
Solution:
The value of current (I) 0.5 A and time (t) is given, so using the values in the formula
Q= I.t = 0.5 x (2 x 60 x 60) = ½ x 2 x 60 x 60 = 3600 C
A flow of 1 mole of electrons is 1F that is 96500 C. Also, 1 mole of electrons is 6.023 x 1023 electrons.
Number of electrons that flow in 3600 C is
= (3600 x 6.023 x 1023)/ 96500
= 2.246 x 1022 electrons
Solving the numerical problem using the log table, the rules applied are -
Log (m x n) = Log m + Log n
Log (m/n) = Log m - Log n
Log (mn)= n Log m
From the log table, the values are-
Log x = (Log 3600 + log 6.023 + 23 log 10) – (log 96500)
Log 3600 = 3.5563
Log 6.023 = 0.7798
Log 10 = 1
Log 96500= 4.9800
Log x = (3.5563 + 0.7798 + 23) – 4.9800
Separating the characteristic and mantissa,
= (3 + 0.5563 + 0.7798 + 23) - 4.9800
= 26 + 1.3361 - 4.9800 = 26 + 1 + 0.3361 - 4 - 0.9800 = (26 + 1 - 4) + 0.3361 - 0.9800
= 23 - 0.6439 + 1 - 1 (to get a positive number, add 1 and subtract 1)
= 23-1 + 1- 0.6439 = 22 + 0.3561 = 22.3561
x = antilog (22.3561) = 2.271 x 1022 electrons
Therefore, 2.271 x 1022 electrons flow through a metallic wire if a current of 0.5 A is passed for 2 hours.
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