Final answer:
The percent composition of sodium in the table salt is approximately 57.38%, while chlorine is approximately 42.62%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the percent composition of each element in the sample of table salt (NaCl), we will use the mass of chlorine and sodium obtained from the experiment. Since the total mass of the sample is 12.2 g and the mass of chlorine is 5.2 g, we can calculate the mass of sodium by subtracting the mass of chlorine from the total mass:
Mass of Sodium = Total mass - Mass of Chlorine
Mass of Sodium = 12.2 g - 5.2 g = 7.0 g
Next, we calculate the percent composition by dividing the mass of each element by the total mass of the compound and then multiplying by 100%:
Percent Composition of Sodium = (Mass of Sodium / Total mass) × 100%
Percent Composition of Sodium = (7.0 g / 12.2 g) × 100% ≈ 57.38%
Percent Composition of Chlorine = (Mass of Chlorine / Total mass) × 100%
Percent Composition of Chlorine = (5.2 g / 12.2 g) × 100% ≈ 42.62%
Therefore, the percent composition of sodium in the table salt is approximately 57.38%, and the percent composition of chlorine is approximately 42.62%.