Final answer:
To calculate the percent composition of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), sum the atomic masses to find the molar mass, then divide the mass of each element by the molar mass and multiply by 100%.
Step-by-step explanation:
Determining Percent Composition from a Chemical Formula
To calculate the percent composition of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), you should use the compound's molecular formula to determine the mass of each element in one mole of the compound. This involves first calculating the molar mass of ammonium nitrate by summing the atomic masses of all atoms within a molecule of the compound.
Once the molar mass is determined, the mass of each element in a mole is found by multiplying the atomic masses with the number of atoms of that element in the formula. For example, in ammonium nitrate, there are 2 nitrogen atoms, 4 hydrogen atoms, and 3 oxygen atoms:
- 2 nitrogen atoms (2 x 14.01 g/mol)
- 4 hydrogen atoms (4 x 1.008 g/mol)
- 3 oxygen atoms (3 x 15.999 g/mol)
Add up these masses to find the molar mass of the compound. Then, you divide the mass of each element by the molar mass of ammonium nitrate and multiply by 100% to find the percent composition for each element.
For example, to find the percent composition of nitrogen in ammonium nitrate, you would sum the mass of the nitrogen atoms, divide by the total molar mass of the compound, and multiply by 100%.
Remember, the total percent composition should add up to 100%, reflecting all components of the compound.