Question

A student found the percent composition of CO to be 50% C and 50% O. What did the student do Incorrectly? What is the percent composition of CO?

Answer 1

it should be 42.86% carbon and 57.14% oxygen

C = 12

O = 16

CO = 12 + 16

CO = 28

C = (12 /28 ) × 100

C = 42.86%

O = (16 /28 ) × 100

O = 57.14%

Answer 2

O = 57.14%

C = 42.86%

Step-by-step explanation:

First of all we will calculate the molar mass of CO.

C = 12 g/mol

O = 16 g/mol

CO = 12 g/mol + 16 g/mol

CO = 28 g/mol

Percent composition:

C = (12 g/mol /28 g/mol ) × 100

C = 42.86%

O = (16 g/mol /28 g/mol ) × 100

O = 57.14%