Skip to main content
Ch.3 - Molecules, Compounds & Chemical Equations
Tro - Chemistry: A Molecular Approach 4th Edition
Tro4th EditionChemistry: A Molecular ApproachISBN: 9780134112831Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTro 4th EditionCh.3 - Molecules, Compounds & Chemical EquationsProblem 72c
Chapter 3, Problem 72c

Calculate the mass percent composition of nitrogen in each nitrogen-containing compound. c. NO2

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Determine the molar mass of each element in the compound. Nitrogen (N) has a molar mass of approximately 14.01 g/mol and Oxygen (O) has a molar mass of approximately 16.00 g/mol.
Step 2: Calculate the molar mass of the compound. The formula NO2 means there is one nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms. So, the molar mass of NO2 is (1 * molar mass of N) + (2 * molar mass of O).
Step 3: Calculate the mass percent composition of nitrogen. The mass percent composition is calculated by dividing the molar mass of nitrogen in the compound by the molar mass of the compound, then multiplying by 100% to get the percentage.
Step 4: Substitute the values into the formula. The molar mass of nitrogen is 14.01 g/mol and the molar mass of the compound was calculated in step 2.
Step 5: After substituting the values into the formula, calculate the mass percent composition of nitrogen in NO2.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Video duration:
1m
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all the atoms in a molecule. For example, in nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the molar mass is derived from one nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms, which is essential for determining the mass percent composition.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:11
Molar Mass Concept

Mass Percent Composition

Mass percent composition is a way to express the concentration of an element in a compound as a percentage of the total mass of that compound. It is calculated using the formula: (mass of the element in the compound / total mass of the compound) x 100%. This concept is crucial for understanding how much of a compound's mass is contributed by a specific element, such as nitrogen in NO2.
Recommended video:
Guided course
00:38
Mass Percent Calculation

Chemical Formula

A chemical formula represents the types and numbers of atoms in a molecule. For nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the formula indicates one nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms. Understanding the chemical formula is vital for calculating both the molar mass and the mass percent composition, as it provides the necessary information about the elements involved in the compound.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:26
Skeletal Formula
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Most fertilizers consist of nitrogen-containing compounds such as NH3, CO(NH2)2, NH4NO3, and (NH4)2SO4. Plants use the nitrogen content in these compounds for protein synthesis. Calculate the mass percent composition of nitrogen in CO(NH2)2.

Textbook Question

Iron in the earth is in the form of iron ore. Common ores include Fe2O3 (hematite), Fe3O4 (magnetite), and FeCO3 (siderite). Calculate the mass percent composition of iron for each of these iron ores. Which ore has the highest iron content?

Textbook Question

Calculate the mass percent composition of carbon in each carbon-containing compound. c. C2H2

Textbook Question

Copper(II) fluoride contains 37.42% F by mass. Calculate the mass of fluorine (in g) in 55.5 g of copper(II) fluoride.

1
views
Textbook Question

Calculate the mass percent composition of nitrogen in each nitrogen-containing compound. a. N2O b. NO

Textbook Question

Calculate the mass percent composition of carbon in each carbon-containing compound. d. C2H5Cl