Chemical Quantities

Percentage Composition

The label on a bag of

fertilizer states the
percentages of N, P,
and K

How do they know

that?
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Percentage Composition
Is the percent by mass of each element in
a formula

•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.
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Percentage Composition from a
Chemical Formula of a compound

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 Example: Calculate the percentage
composition of Carbon in CO 2

First… Figure out the molar mass of each element to

get the Formula Mass:
CO2 = 1C (12.01g) + 2 O(16.00 g) = 44.01 g/mol

Second…Divide the Molar Mass of the particular

element by the total Formula Mass
12.01 g C = 27.289
44.01 g CO2

Third…Multiply the amount by 100 to get a percent!

27.289 x 100 = 27.29% Carbon in CO2
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Example: Calculate the percent composition
of Oxygen in CO2

First… Figure out the molar mass of each element to

get the Formula Mass:
CO2 = 1C (12.01g) + 2 O(16.00 g) = 44.01 g/mol

Second…Divide the Molar Mass of the particular

element by the total Formula Mass
32.00 g O = 72.71
44.01 g CO2

Third…Multiply the amount by 100 to get a percent!

72.71 x 100 = 72.71% Oxygen in CO2
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Check your answers…
• Add up your percentages
• They MUST add up to 100!

Carbon = 27.29
+
Oxygen = 72.71

Total = 100
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Learning Check
What is the percent composition of
lactic acid, C3H6O3, a compound that
appears in the blood after vigorous
activity?

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Solution
STEP 1 Determine the total mass of each element in the
molar mass of a formula.

3C(12.01) = 36.03 g of C
+ 6H(1.008) = 6.048 g of H
+ 3O(16.00) = 48.00 g of O
= 90.08 g/mol

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Solution (continued)
STEP 2 Divide the total mass of each element by the molar
mass and multiply by 100%.

%C = 36.03 g C x 100 = 40.00% C

90.08 g

%H = 6.048 g H x 100 = 6.714% H

90.08 g

%O = 48.00 g O x 100 = 53.29% O

90.08 g

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Learning Check
The chemical isoamyl
acetate C7H14O2
gives the odor of
pears. What is the
percent of carbon in
isoamyl acetate?
1) 7.102 %C
2) 35.51 %C
3) 64.58 %C

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Solution
STEP 1 Determine the total mass of each element in the
molar mass of a formula.
7C(12.01) = 84.07 g of C
+ 14H(1.008) = 14.11 g of H
+ 2O(16.00) = 32.00 g of O
Molar mass = 130.18 g/mol

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Solution (continued)
STEP 2 Divide the total mass of each element by the
molar mass and multiply by 100%.
%C = total g C x 100%
molar mass
%C = 84.07 g C x 100% = 64.58 %C
130.18 g

Basic Chemistry Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Percent Composition from Mass Data

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Exercise

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