Question

What is the percent composition of the antibiotic tetracycline, which has the molecular formula of C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈?

Express each of your answers to two decimal places.
% C in C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈
% H in C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈
% N in C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈
% O in C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈

Answer 1

The percent composition of tetracycline is 59.45% carbon, 5.46% hydrogen, 6.30% nitrogen, and 28.79% oxygen.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the percent composition of a compound, we need to determine the mass of each element in the compound and then divide it by the molar mass of the compound. The molar mass of C₂₂H₂₄N₂O₈ can be calculated by adding up the molar masses of each element:

• C: 12.01 g/mol x 22 = 264.22 g/mol
• H: 1.01 g/mol x 24 = 24.24 g/mol
• N: 14.01 g/mol x 2 = 28.02 g/mol
• O: 16.00 g/mol x 8 = 128.00 g/mol

To find the percent composition, divide the mass of each element by the molar mass of the compound and multiply by 100:

• Percent C: (264.22 g/mol / 444.47 g/mol) x 100% = 59.45%
• Percent H: (24.24 g/mol / 444.47 g/mol) x 100% = 5.46%
• Percent N: (28.02 g/mol / 444.47 g/mol) x 100% = 6.30%
• Percent O: (128.00 g/mol / 444.47 g/mol) x 100% = 28.79%