Question

Calculate the percentage by mass of the indicated element in the following compounds. Hydrogen in ascorbic acid, HC6H7O6, also known as vitamin C. Express your answer using two significant figures

Answer 1

Answer: The mass percent of hydrogen in ascorbic acid is 4.5 %

Explanation:

In $C_6H_8O_6$, there are 6 carbon atoms, 8 hydrogen atoms and 6 oxygen atoms.

To calculate the mass percent of element in a given compound, we use the formula:

$\text{Mass percent of hydrogen}=\frac{\text{Mass of hydrogen}}{\text{Molar mass of ascorbic acid}}\times 100$

Mass of hydrogen = $8\times 1g/mol=8g$

Molar Mass of ascorbic acid =$6\times 12g/mol+8\times 1g/mol+6\times 16g/mol=176g$

Putting values in above equation, we get:

$\text{Mass percent of hydrogen}=\frac{8g}{176}\times 100=4.5\%$

Hence, the mass percent of of hydrogen in ascorbic acid is 4.5 %.