Question

Find the percent composition of C7H5N3O6

Answer 1

Finding percent composition is fairly easy. You only need to divide the mass of an element by the total mass of the compound. We can do this one element at a time.

First, let's find the total mass by using the masses of the elements given on the periodic table.

7 x 12.011 (mass of Carbon) = 84.077

5 x 1.008 (mass of Hydrogen) = 5.04

3 x 14.007 (mass of Nitrogen) = 42.021

6 x 15.999 (mass of Oxygen) = 95.994

Add all of those pieces together.

84.077 + 5.04 + 42.021 + 95.994 = 227.132 g/mol is your total. Since we also just found the mass of each individual element, the next step will be very easy.

Carbon: 84.077 / 227.132 = 0.37016 ≈ 37.01 %

Hydrogen: 5.04 / 227.132 = 0.022189 ≈ 2.22 %

Nitrogen: 42.021 / 227.132 = 0.185 ≈ 18.5 %

Oxygen: 95.994 / 227.132 = 0.42263 ≈ 42.26 %

You can check your work by making sure they add up to 100%. The ones I just found add up to 99.99, which is close enough. A small difference (no more than 0.03 in my experience) is just a matter of where you rounded your numbers.