Question

Urea, NH2CONH2; ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4; and ammonium hydrogen sulfate, NH4HSO4, are all common fertilizers. Rank the compounds in order from largest mass percent of nitrogen to smallest mass percent of nitrogen.

Answer 1

The compounds in order from largest mass percent of nitrogen to smallest mass percent of nitrogen:

Urea > Ammonium sulfate > ammonium hydrogen sulfate

Step-by-step explanation:

Percentage of mass of an element in a compound :

`X(\%)=(n* A)/(M)* 100`

Where:

n = Number of atoms X

A = Atomic mass of atom X

M = Molar mass of compound

Percentage of nitrogen in urea;

Molar mass of urea,M = 60 g/mol

Atomic mass of nitrogen, A = 14 g/mol

n = 2

`N\%=(2* 14 g/mol)/(60 g/mol)* 100=46.67\%`

Percentage of nitrogen in ammonium sulfate ;

Molar mass of urea,ammonium sulfate = 132 g/mol

Atomic mass of nitrogen, A = 14 g/mol

n = 2

`N\%=(2* 14 g/mol)/(132 g/mol)* 100=21.21\%`

Percentage of nitrogen in ammonium hydrogen sulfate;

Molar mass of ammonium hydrogen sulfate ,M = 115 g/mol

Atomic mass of nitrogen, A = 14 g/mol

n = 2

`N\%=(1* 14 g/mol)/(115g/mol)* 100=12.17\%`

The compounds in order from largest mass percent of nitrogen to smallest mass percent of nitrogen:

46.67% > 21.21%>12.17%

Urea > Ammonium sulfate > ammonium hydrogen sulfate