Question

What is the percent composition of carbon in acetic acid?

Answer 1

The percent composition of carbon in acetic acid is `40.002%`.

Explanation:

Acetic acid: `"CH"_3"COOH"`

To determine the percent composition of carbon in acetic acid, divide the molar mass of acetic acid `("60.052 g/mol")` by the mass of carbon `("2"xx"12.011 g/mol")` in one mole of acetic acid and multiply by `100`.

`(2xx12.011color(red)cancel(color(black)("g"))/color(red)cancel(color(black)("mol")))/(60.052color(red)cancel(color(black)("g"))/(color(red)cancel(color(black)("mol"))))xx100="40.002%"`