A research laboratory isolates 0.250g of solid elemental sulfur intended to contain exactly 4.70×1021 atoms. Subsequent mass-spectrometric analysis reveals an actual count of 4.58×1021 atoms in the sample. The molar mass of sulfur is 32.06gmol−1.
Answer the following questions, showing all steps clearly.
a. Part 1: a) Using the sample’s measured mass, calculate the theoretical number of sulfur atoms that the 0.250g portion should contain.
b. Part 2: b) Determine the percent error between the experimentally measured atom count and the theoretical value from part (a).
c. Part 3: c) Suggest one plausible experimental factor that could account for the observed percent error, and briefly justify your choice based on chemical reasoning.