Question

Sodium hydrogen carbonate, also called baking soda, is an active ingredient in some antacids used for the relief of indigestion. Determine the percent of carbon in sodium hydrogen carbonate.

Answer 1

14.30%

Step-by-step explanation:

Step 1: Given data

Chemical formula of sodium hydrogen carbonate: NaHCO₃

Step 2: Determine the mass of C in 1 mole of NaHCO₃

The is 1 atom of C in 1 molecule of NaHCO₃ and the molar mass of C is 12.01 g/mol. Then, there are 12.01 g of C in 1 mole of NaHCO₃.

Step 3: Determine the mnolar mass of NaHCO₃

M(NaHCO₃) = 1 × M(Na) + 1 × M(H) + 1 × M(C) + 3 × M(O)

M(NaHCO₃) = 1 × 22.98 g/mol + 1 × 1.01 g/mol + 1 × 12.01 g/mol + 3 × 16.00 g/mol = 84.00 g/mol

Step 4: Determine the mass percent of C in NaHCO₃

We will use the following expression.

%C = mC / mNaHCO₃ × 100%

%C = 12.01 g / 84.00 g × 100% = 14.30%