The formula for mustard gas used in chemical warfare is #C_4H_8SCl_2#, which is 159.09 g/mol. What is the percentage of hydrogen in the compound?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 9, 2016

Approx. #5%#.

Explanation:

#%H# #=# #"Mass of hydrogen"/"Mass of compound"xx100%# #=#

#(8xx1.00794*g*mol^-1)/(159.09*g*mol^-1)xx100%# #~=5%#.

These are incredibly corrosive and harmful reagents whose use is possibly still legal in warfare. That this was manufactured and deployed on monumental scales is incredibly morally bankrupt. Of course, which is more immoral? Making an explosive chemical to kill people, or making a chemical like this one that would maim and harass?

Related questions
See all questions in Percent Composition
Impact of this question
8928 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License