how many metric tons of carbon is in 5.2 metric tons of methane? how many metric tons of carbon is in 5.2 metric tons of methane? @Chemistry

Question

how many  metric tons of carbon is in 5.2 metric tons of methane? how many  metric tons of carbon is in 5.2 metric tons of methane? @Chemistry

kainui · Answer

First off, what is the molecular formula for methane? Methane means 1 carbon chain with no double bonds, so CH4.

What percentage of the total weight of one molecule of CH4 is Carbon? Just look at the molar mass on any periodic table and you'll find that Carbon has a molar mass of 12.01 and Hydrogen has a molar mass of 1.01. Since CH4 has 4 Hydrogen the total molar mass is 16.05, now 12.01/16.05 is the percentage of Carbon out of the total.

Take this fraction and multiply it by the 5.2 metric tons and you'll get your answer since the same amount of carbon out of a single molecule is the same ratio as the same amount of carbon out of a bunch of the same material!