Question

Can anyone help me to solve this question?

Vinegar is a dilute ethanoic acid with a molecular formula of CH3COOH.
Find the percentage composition by mass of carbon in ethanoic acid.

Answer 1

The percentage composition by mass of carbon in ethanoic acid is 40%

Answer 2

40.00 %

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's rewrite the formula of ethanoic acid as C₂H₄O₂.

The masses of each element are:

2C = 2 × 12.01 = 24.02 u

4H = 4 × 1.008 = 4.032 u

2O = 2 × 16.00 = 32.00 u

TOTAL = 60.05 u

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% C = 24.02/60.05 × 100

% C = 0.400 × 100

% C = 40.00 %