What is the percentage composition by mass of the constituent atoms in calcium nitrate?

1 Answer
Feb 2, 2017

#%Ca=24.4%................"by mass"#

Explanation:

#"Calcium nitrate has a molar mass of "164.09*g*mol^-1#. We take the weighted atomic masses of each element, and divide them by this molar mass:

#%Ca# #=# #(40.1*g*mol^-1)/(164.09*g*mol^-1)xx100%=24.4%#

#%N# #=# #(2xx14.01*g*mol^-1)/(164.09*g*mol^-1)xx100%=17.1.%#

#%O# #=# #(6xx16.00*g*mol^-1)/(164.09*g*mol^-1)xx100%=58.5%#

Should the individual atomic percentages SUM to #100%#? Well, does they?