What is the molar mass of #C_17H_19NO_3#? What fraction of atoms in morphine is accounted for by carbon?

1 Answer
Sep 5, 2016

The molar mass of morphine is #285.34# #g*mol^-1#. It contains 72% carbon content by mass.

Explanation:

Given a formula of #C_17H_19NO_3#, the percentage by mass of carbon is:

#=# #"Mass of carbon"/"Molar mass of morphine"#

#=# #(17xx12.01*g*mol^-1)/(285.34*g*mol^-1)xx100%# #=# #72%#

Because this is one of the most powerful pain-killing drugs known, some 500,000 kg of morphine is produced annually by poppy farming.