Question

A 36.41-g sample of calcium carbonate (CaC O 3 )

contains 14.58 g of calcium and 4.36 g of carbon.

What is the mass of oxygen contained in the sam-
ple? What is the percent by mass of each element in

this compound?

Answer 1

m(O) = m(CaCO₃) - m(Ca) - m(C).
m(O) = 36.41 g - 14.58 g - 4.36 g.
m(O) = 17.47 g.
ω(Ca) = m(Ca) ÷ m(CaCO₃) · 100%.
ω(Ca) = 14.58 g ÷ 36.41 g · 100%.
ω(Ca) = 40 %; mass percent of calcium.
ω(C) = m(C) ÷ m(CaCO₃) · 100%.
ω(C) = 4.36 g ÷ 36.41 g · 100%
ω(C) = 12%; mass percent of carbon.
ω(O) = 100% - ω(Ca) - ω(C).
ω(O) = 100% - 40% - 12%.
ω(O) = 48%; mass percent of oxygen.