BAGUIO COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Baguio City, Philippines

SUBJECT TITLE : General Chemistry 1

MODULE TITLE : Percent Composition and Chemical Formulas
MODULE NO :6
NOMINAL DURATION : 4 Hours – September 21 – 26, 2020
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. To be able to solve for the molar and molecular mass of compounds.
2. To be able to determine the percentage composition of elements in a compound.
3. To be able to determine the number of atoms in a chemical formula.
MODULE CONTENT:
I. Percent Composition
- definition
- formula
- steps
- examples
II. Chemical Formulas
DISCUSSION
Percent Composition

● is a ratio of an amount of each element to the total amount of individual

elements in a compound, which is then multiplied with 100%. It is the percent
by mass of each element in a compound.
● It is a way to describe what proportions of the different elements there
are in a compound.

Formula = (mass of element/mass of compound) x 100%

Steps:
1. Write the compound formula (if not provided).
2. Do an atom inventory and calculate the molar mass of the compound.
Molar Mass – defined as the mass of a sample divided by the moles of that substance in the
sample. It is usually denoted by the symbol M.
3. Use the formula given above.
4. The sum of individual element %’s must add up to exactly 100%.
Note:
1. If there are two elements in a compound, you will do two separate percent composition
calculations.
2. If there are three elements in a compound, you will do three separate percent composition
calculations.
Example 1. Find the percentage composition of Nitrogen in Ammonia (NH3).

Example 2. Find the percentage composition of Nitrogen in Ammonium Nitrate (NH4NO3).

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 BAGUIO COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Baguio City, Philippines

Example 3. Percent Composition of Glucose (C6H12O6).

Example 4.

Chemical Formula
● Compounds are substances made of two or more different
elements chemically combined in a set ratio.
● A chemical bond, or electric force, holds the atoms together in a
compound.
● The properties of a compound are totally different from the
elements that make up the compound.
● Chemical Formulas are used to show the ratio of elements in a
compound. The elements present in a compound are identifies with
the element’s symbol. If more than one atom of an element is in the compound, it is shown with
a subscript. (O2, O3, H2, N2, etc.)
● Sometimes, substances contain more than one molecule of an individual compound. This is shown
with a coefficient. Coefficients are written in front of the compound’s formula. (4H2, 2SO3)

Compound Name Elements Present Total # of Atoms # of Molecules

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 BAGUIO COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Baguio City, Philippines

EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT/PERFORMANCE TASK:
Instructions: Copy and complete the table below.
Quiz. Give the percentage composition of each compounds.
Compound % Composition
1. C4H10 (Butane) C = ___________
H = ___________
2. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) C = ____________
O = ____________
3. C3H6O (Acetone) C = ____________
H = ____________
O = ____________
4. NH4Cl (Ammonium Chloride) N = ____________
H = ____________
Cl = ____________
5. HNO3 (Nitric Acid) H = ____________
N = ____________
O = ____________

REFERENCES:
1. https://www.slideshare.net/jmpalero/percentage-composition-65763451
2. https://www.slideshare.net/e045911/notes-chemical-formulas
3. https://opentextbc.ca/chemistry/chapter/2-4-chemical-formulas

Prepared by:
Engr. Lorena G. Dayrit
Name of Teacher/Instructor

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