Final answer:
The percent of calcium in calcium oxide is calculated by dividing the mass of calcium (41 grams) by the total mass of the compound (66 grams) and multiplying by 100, resulting in 62.12%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the percent of calcium in calcium oxide (CaO), you use the mass of calcium present in the sample and the total mass of the sample. The mass of calcium present is given as 41 grams and the total mass of the compound (calcium oxide) is 66 grams.
The formula to calculate the percentage by mass of an element in a compound is:
Percentage by mass = (Mass of element in the compound / Total mass of the compound) × 100
Substituting the given values into the formula:
Percent of calcium = (41 g / 66 g) × 100
Calculating this gives:
Percent of calcium = 62.12%
Therefore, the correct answer is A) 62.12%.