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Ch.3 - Molecules and Compounds
Tro - Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 6th Edition
Tro6th EditionChemistry: A Molecular ApproachISBN: 9780137832217Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTro 6th EditionCh.3 - Molecules and CompoundsProblem 79c
Chapter 3, Problem 79c

Calculate the mass percent composition of carbon in each carbon-containing compound. c. C2H2

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Identify the molecular formula of the compound: \( \text{C}_2\text{H}_2 \).
Calculate the molar mass of the compound by adding the atomic masses of all atoms in the formula. Use the periodic table to find the atomic masses: Carbon (C) is approximately 12.01 g/mol and Hydrogen (H) is approximately 1.01 g/mol.
Calculate the total mass of carbon in the compound by multiplying the number of carbon atoms by the atomic mass of carbon: \( 2 \times 12.01 \text{ g/mol} \).
Calculate the mass percent composition of carbon by dividing the total mass of carbon by the molar mass of the compound and then multiplying by 100 to convert it to a percentage.
Express the mass percent composition of carbon in the compound as a percentage.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all the atoms in a chemical formula. For example, in C2H2, the molar mass is determined by adding the masses of 2 carbon atoms and 2 hydrogen atoms, which is essential for calculating mass percent composition.
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Mass Percent Composition

Mass percent composition refers to the percentage by mass of each element in a compound. It is calculated using the formula: (mass of element in 1 mole of compound / molar mass of compound) × 100%. This concept is crucial for understanding the distribution of elements within a compound, such as determining the proportion of carbon in C2H2.

Chemical Formula

A chemical formula represents the types and numbers of atoms in a molecule. For C2H2, the formula indicates that there are 2 carbon atoms and 2 hydrogen atoms. Understanding chemical formulas is fundamental for performing calculations related to molar mass and mass percent composition, as they provide the necessary information about the composition of the compound.
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