Question

A hygroscopic compound readily absorbs water from the air. This water can be removed by gently heating the compound. 5.24 g of a hygroscopic compound was heated to remove the absorbed water. After heating the dry compound had a mass of 4.16 g. What was the mass percent of water in the original compound?

Answer 1

Answer:

This means 20.6% of the original hygrocopic compound is water

Explanation:

Step 1: Given data

A hygroscopic compound weighs 5.24 grams

To remove the absorbed water the compound is heated.

After the heating process, the compound weighs 4.16 grams

Step 2: Calculate the mass of the water

The total mass of the hygroscopic compound = mass of water + mass of dry compound

The mass of water = The total mass of the hygroscopic compound - mass of dry compound

The mass of water = 5.24 grams - 4.16 grams = 1.08 grams

Step 3: Calculate the mass percent of water in the original compound

1.08g / 5.24g *100% = 20.6%

Step 4: To control this we can calculate the mass percent of the dry compound

4.16g / 5.24g *100 % = 79.4%

20.6% + 79.4% = 100%

This means 20.6% of the original hygrocopic compound is water