Percentage composition

Indicates the relative amount of each element present

in a compound.
Calculating percentage
composition
Step 1 : Calculate molar mass

Step 2 : Divide the subtotal for each element’s mass

by the molar mass.

Step 3: Multiply by 100 to convert to a percentage.

Example 1
1. Calculate the molar mass of water, H2O.

 Step 1 – H- 2(1.01)= 2.02

 O – 1(16.0)= 16.0
 ________
 18.02
Step 2 2.02/18.02 X 100 = 11.21%

 16.0 /18.02 X 100 = 88.79 %

Water is composed of 11.21 % hydrogen and 88.79 %

oxygen.
Example 2

Calculate the percentage composition of sucrose ,

C12H22O11.
Example 3
Find the percentage composition of hydrogen in
sulfuric acid.