Question

how are percent mass calculations used?

Answer 1

How are percent mass calculations used?
a.
They are used for determining concentrations in solutions and water of hydration
c.
They are used for determining water of hydration and the combustion analysis of hydrocarbons
b.
They are used for determining molecular purity and concentration in solutions
d.
None of the above

Answer 2

Step 1: Find the atomic mass of each element in the molecule.

The first step to finding mass percent is to find the atomic mass of each element in the molecule.

K3Fe(CN)6 is made up of potassium (K), iron (Fe), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N).

Using the periodic table:

Atomic mass of K: 39.10 g/mol
Atomic mass of Fe: 55.85 g/mol
Atomic mass of C: 12.01 g/mol
Atomic mass of N: 14.01 g/mol

Step 2: Find the mass combination of each element.

The second step is to determine the total mass combination of each element. Each molecule of KFe(CN)6 contains 3 K, 1 Fe, 6 C and 6 N atoms. Multiply these numbers by the atomic mass to get each element's mass contribution.

Mass contribution of K = 3 x 39.10 = 117.30 g/mol
Mass contribution of Fe = 1 x 55.85 = 55.85 g/mol
Mass contribution of C = 6 x 12.01 = 72.06 g/mol
Mass contribution of N = 6 x 14.01 = 84.06 g/mol

Step 3: Find the total molecular mass of the molecule.

The molecular mass is the sum of the mass contributions of each element. Simply add each mass contribution together to find the total.

Molecular mass of K3Fe(CN)6 = 117.30 g/mol + 55.85 g/mol + 72.06 g/mol + 84.06 g/mol
Molecular mass of K3Fe(CN)6 = 329.27 g/mol

Step 4: Find the mass percent composition of each element.

To find the mass percent composition of an element, divide the mass contribution of the element by the total molecular mass. This number must then be multiplied by 100% to be expressed as a percent.

Mass percent composition of K = mass contribution of K/molecular mass of K3Fe(CN)6 x 100%
Mass percent composition of K = 117.30 g/mol/329.27 g/mol x 100%
Mass percent composition of K = 0.3562 x 100%
Mass percent composition of K = 35.62%

Mass percent composition of Fe = mass contribution of Fe/molecular mass of K3Fe(CN)6 x 100%
Mass percent composition of Fe = 55.85 g/mol/329.27 g/mol x 100%
Mass percent composition of Fe = 0.1696 x 100%
Mass percent composition of Fe = 16.96%

Mass percent composition of C = mass contribution of C/molecular mass of K3Fe(CN)6 x 100%
Mass percent composition of C = 72.06 g/mol/329.27 g/mol x 100%
Mass percent composition of C = 0.2188 x 100%
Mass percent composition of C = 21.88%

Mass percent composition of N = mass contribution of N/molecular mass of K3Fe(CN)6 x 100%
Mass percent composition of N = 84.06 g/mol/329.27 g/mol x 100%
Mass percent composition of N = 0.2553 x 100%
Mass percent composition of N = 25.53%