Percentage Composition

1. Calculate the percentage by mass of the elements in iron(III) oxide.

Solution:

Formula of iron (III) oxide: Fe2O3

Relative formula mass of Fe2O3= 2(56) +3(16) =112 +48=160

The percentage of iron (Fe) in Fe2O3= 2 x relative atomic mass of Fe x 100%

Relative formula mass of Fe2O3

= 2 x 56 x 100% = 70%

160

The percentage of oxygen in Fe2O3= 3 x relative atomic mass of O x 100%

Relative formula mass of Fe2O3

= 3 x 16 x 100% = 30%

160

Note: The percentage of iron and oxygen add up to 100%

 1. Calculate the mass of copper in 32g of copper(II) sulphate, CuSO4

(Relative atomic masses of O=16, S=32, Cu=64)

Solution:

Relative atomic mass of Cu= 64

Relative formula mass of CuSO4= 64+ 32+4(16)=160

Mass of copper= Relative atomic mass of one Cu x Mass of sample

Relative formula mass of CuSO4

= 64 x32g

160

= 12.8g

1. Calculate the mass of water in 12.5g of hydrated copper (II) sulphate,

CuSO4.5H2O.
2. Calculate the percentage of magnesium in magnesium sulfate, MgSO4.
3. Calculate the percentage of carbon in ethanoic acid, C2H4O2.
4. Calculate the percentage of calcium and oxygen in calcium carbonate,
CaCO3.
5. Calculate the mass of calcium in 25g of calcium carbonate, CaCO3.
6. Calculate the mass of chlorine in 27g of copper (II) chloride, CuCl2.
Example: A metal compound has the formula XCl4 and a relative mass of
261.What is

(a) The relative atomic mass of X?

(b) Metal X?
Solution:
(a) XCI4 =261
X + 35.5 x 4 =261
X+ 142= 261
X=261- 142
X=119

a) How many molecules are there in 0.25 mole of carbon dioxide, CO2?
b) How many atoms are present?
 Concentration

A solution contains 10g of sodium hydroxide, NaOH, in

200 cm3 of solution.

Calculate the concentration in

(a) g/dm3
(b) mol/dm3
Solution: (a)

Volume= 200 cm3 = 200/1000 = 0.2 dm3

Conc= Mass of solute

Volume of solution in dm3

=10g

0.2 dm3

= 50g/dm3

(b). Molar mass of NaOH= 23 + 16+1 =40 g/mol

No. of moles=mass

Molar mass

= 10/40

=0.25 mol
Conc = moles =0.25 = 1.25mol/dm3

Volume in dm3 0.2

Formulae for Molar Calculations

1. Mass= moles x Mr
or
Moles = Mass/g
Mr or Ar

2. No. of particles = moles x Avogadro’s No

(Avogadro’s No (NA)=6 x1023)

No of atoms=moles x NA x given no. of atoms
No. of ions= no. of moles x NA x given no. of ions
No. of molecules= moles x NA

3. Volume of gas = moles x Molar gas volume

(Molar gas volume= 24dm3 or 24000cm3)
or
Moles =Volume of gas
Molar gas volume

4. Concentration (mol/dm3) = moles

Volume in dm3
5. Concentration (g/dm3) = mass of solute in grams
Volume in dm3
6. M. F = n x E. F

M.F=molecular formula
E.F= empirical formula