THE MOLE CONCEPT

CALCULATIONS Part 3

Calculating Percentage Composition by Mass

Percentage composition is calculated from a molecular formula by dividing the

mass of a single element in one mole of a compound by the mass of one mole of
the entire compound.

Example 1

Butane is an organic molecule with the molecular formula, C4H10.

The percentage composition of each element can be found as follows:

Step 1

Find the relative molecular mass of the molecule.

Required atomic masses: H = 1 gmol-1; C = 12 gmol-1

Relative molecular mass of butane = 4(12) + 10(1) = 58 gmol-1

Step 2

For the % composition by mass of C, we need to consider that there are 4 C atoms
in 1 molecule, and therefore the mass of C per molecule is 48 g.

The mass of the whole molecule is 58 g.

48
% composition by mass of C = × 100 = 82.8 %
58

For the % composition by mass of H, we need to consider that there are 10 H

atoms in 1 molecule, and therefore the mass of H per molecule is 10 g.

10
% composition by mass of H = × 100 = 17.2 %
58

Therefore, butane can be described as 17.2 % hydrogen and 82.8 % carbon.

Example 2

Calculate the % composition by mass of copper in copper sulphate, CuSO4.

Step 1

Find the relative molecular mass of the molecule.

Required atomic masses: Cu = 64 gmol-1; S = 32 gmol-1; O = 16 gmol-1

Relative molecular mass of copper sulphate = 64 + 32 + 4(16) = 160 gmol-1

Step 2

For the % composition by mass of Cu, we need to consider that there is only one
Cu atom in 1 mole of the compound, and therefore the mass of Cu per mole of
compound is 64 g.

The mass of one mole of the compound is 160 g.

64
% composition by mass of Cu = × 100 = 40.0 %
160

Tip:

Always ensure that the total % = 100 % to verify your answer.