HOW TO

Calculate Mass Percent

DEFINE THE EQUATION FOR MASS PERCENT OF
A COMPOUND.
Write the equation at the beginning of every
problem: mass percent = (mass of chemical/total
1
mass of compound) x 10

CALCULATE THE TOTAL MASS OF THE

COMPOUND.

2 When you know the masses of all the

elements or compounds being added
together, add them together to calculate the
total mass of the final compound or solution.
This will be the denominator in the mass
percent calculation.

IDENTIFY THE MASS OF THE CHEMICAL-IN-

QUESTION.
Write down the mass of chemical-in-question. This
mass will be the numerator in the mass percent
3
calculation..

PLUG THE VARIABLES INTO THE MASS

PERCENT EQUATION

4 Once you have determined the values for each

variable, plug them into the equation

CALCULATE THE MASS PERCENT

ow that the equation is filled in, simply solve to

calculate the mass percent. Divide the mass of 5
the chemical by the total mass of the compound
and multiply by 100. This will give you the mass
percent of the chemical

EXAMPLE
6