Question

You have obtained a gas chromatogram of a two component mixture of compounds A and B. The height of peak A is 3.96 cm. and the width at half height is 1.25 cm. The height of peak B is 4 cm. and the width at half height is 1.17 cm. The percentage of a component in the mixture is proportional to peak area. Estimate peak areas by multiplying height by width at half height. What was the percentage of compound B in the mixture? (Enter your answer as a number without any percent symbol or the word percent.)

Answer 1

A: 51.4%

B: 48.6%

Step-by-step explanation:

Hight A: 3.86 cm

Width at half height A: 1.25 cm

Area A: 3.86 cm x 1.25 cm = 4.95 cm²

Hight B: 4.00 cm

Width at half height B: 1.17 cm

Area B: 4.00 cm x 1.17 cm = 4.68 cm²

Total area = 4.95 + 4.68 = 9.63 cm²

Since the percentage of a component in the mixture is proportional to peak area, we can calculate:

Percentage of A = Area A / Total area

Percentage of A = 4.95 / 9.63

Percentage of A = 0.514

Percentage of A = 52.4 %

Percentage of B = Area B / Total area

Percentage of B = 4.68 / 9.63

Percentage of B = 0.486

Percentage of B = 48.6 %