Final answer:
The percent composition of carbon in the methanol sample can be calculated by dividing the mass of carbon (6.2 g) by the total mass of the sample (26.2 g) and multiplying by 100, resulting in 23.66%.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the percent composition of carbon in methanol for the given sample, you first need to find the total mass of the sample, which is the sum of the masses of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Next, you calculate the percent composition of carbon by dividing the mass of carbon by the total mass of the sample and then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.
The total mass of the methanol sample is 6.2 g (C) + 4.1 g (H) + 15.9 g (O) = 26.2 g. Therefore, the percent composition of carbon is (6.2 g C / 26.2 g sample) × 100 = 23.66%.