Question

In a 3.93E+1 g sample of NaHCO3, how many grams of sodium are present? Use two decimal places in atomic masses. Only give the numeric value of your answer. Don’t include the units.

Answer 1

To determine the mass of sodium in a sample of NaHCO3, calculate the fraction of the molar mass attributable to sodium and multiply by the sample's mass. The calculation yields 1.06 g of sodium.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the mass of sodium in a sample of NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate), you need to calculate what fraction of sodium bicarbonate's molecular mass is due to sodium and apply that fraction to the mass of the sample given. The molar mass of NaHCO3 is the sum of the atomic masses of sodium (Na), hydrogen (H), carbon (C), and three oxygen (O) atoms. By using atomic masses to two decimal places, Na = 22.99 g/mol, H = 1.01 g/mol, C = 12.01 g/mol, and O = 16.00 g/mol, the molar mass of NaHCO3 is approximately 84.01 g/mol. The proportion of the molar mass that is sodium can be calculated as (22.99 g/mol) / (84.01 g/mol). Multiplying this by the mass of the sample (3.93E+1 g) provides the mass of sodium present.

The calculation is as follows:

(22.99 g/mol Na) / (84.01 g/mol NaHCO3) x 3.93E+1 g = 1.06 g of sodium