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Calculating Mass Percent of Each Element in Acrylic Acid C3H4O2

February 16th, 2008

Chemistry Tutor Site Exercise
Acrylic acid wich formula C₃H₄O₂ is important starting material for synthetic of acrylic plastic. Calculate the mass percent of each element in acrylic acid.

Chemistry Tutor Site Solution

The masses of the elements in 1 mole of Acrylic acid are

Mass of C = 3 x 12.01 = 36.03 g

Mass of H = 4 x 1.008 = 4.032 g

Mass of O = 2 x 16.00= 32.00 g

Mass of 1 mol of acrylic acid = 72.062 g

Next we find the fraction of the total mass contributed by each element and convert it to a percentage:

Mas percent of C = (36.03 / 72.062) x 100% = 49.99%

Mas percent of H = (4.032 / 72.062) x 100% = 5.60 %

Mas percent of O = (32.00 / 72.062) x 100% = 44.41 %

Check:
Sum the individual mass percent of each element, they should total of 100% within round. In this case the percentages add up to 100.00%

Entry Filed under: Percent Composition