Percent Composition Chemistry Example 3

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Example 3

easy
What is the percent composition of carbon in CO2\text{CO}_2? (C = 12.01, O = 16.00)

Solution

  1. 1
    Molar mass of CO2=12.01+2(16.00)=44.01 g/mol\text{CO}_2 = 12.01 + 2(16.00) = 44.01\,\text{g/mol}.
  2. 2
    %C =12.0144.01×100%=27.29%= \frac{12.01}{44.01} \times 100\% = 27.29\%.

Answer

27.29% carbon27.29\%\text{ carbon}
Carbon makes up about a quarter of the mass of carbon dioxide; the rest is oxygen.

About Percent Composition

Percent composition is the percentage by mass of each element in a chemical compound.

Learn more about Percent Composition →

More Percent Composition Examples

Example 1 easy

Calculate the percent composition by mass of each element in [formula].

Example 2 medium

Calculate the percent by mass of nitrogen in ammonium nitrate ([formula]).

Example 4 easy

What percent by mass of calcium carbonate ([formula]) is oxygen? (Ca = [formula], C = [formula], O =

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