HealthHub

Location:HOME > Health > content

Health

Calculating the Percent by Mass of Oxygen in Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)

February 01, 2025Health1061
Calculating the Percent by Mass of Oxygen in Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) Sul

Calculating the Percent by Mass of Oxygen in Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4)

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a crucial chemical compound with extensive industrial applications. Understanding its composition, particularly the % by mass of oxygen, is essential for various processes. This article will guide you through the calculation of the percent by mass of oxygen in sulfuric acid.

Step-by-Step Calculation of Molar Mass of H2SO4

Before we proceed with the calculation of the percent by mass of oxygen, we need to determine the molar mass of the compound, H2SO4.

Mass Contribution of Each Element

The chemical formula H2SO4 indicates that one mole of sulfuric acid contains:

2 atoms of hydrogen (H) 1 atom of sulfur (S) 4 atoms of oxygen (O)

The molar masses of each element are as follows:

Hydrogen (H): 1.01 g/mol Sulfur (S): 32.07 g/mol Oxygen (O): 16.00 g/mol

Total Molar Mass of H2SO4

Now, let's calculate the total molar mass of H2SO4 by summing up the contributions of each element:

Calculation Details

For Hydrogen:

2 atoms × 1.01 g/mol 2.02 g/mol

For Sulfur:

1 atom × 32.07 g/mol 32.07 g/mol

For Oxygen:

4 atoms × 16.00 g/mol 64.00 g/mol

Adding these values together:

2.02 g/mol 32.07 g/mol 64.00 g/mol 98.09 g/mol

Percent by Mass of Oxygen in H2SO4

The next step is to calculate the percent by mass of oxygen in H2SO4. The formula for this is:

% by mass of oxygen (Mass of oxygen / Molar mass of H2SO4) × 100

Substituting the values, we get:

% by mass of oxygen (64.00 g/mol / 98.09 g/mol) × 100 ≈ 65.24%

Explanation

The chemical formula H2SO4 indicates that in one mole of sulfuric acid, there are four moles of oxygen atoms. To calculate the percentage by mass of oxygen, you need to divide the mass of oxygen in one mole of sulfuric acid by the molar mass of sulfuric acid and multiply by 100. This results in approximately 65.24% by mass of oxygen in H2SO4.

Practical Application

Understanding the percent by mass of oxygen in sulfuric acid is crucial for:

Process control in chemical manufacturing and refinement Determining purity levels in commercial and industrial applications Optimizing chemical reactions that involve sulfuric acid

In conclusion, the percent by mass of oxygen in sulfuric acid H2SO4 is approximately 65.24%, making it a fundamental property for various scientific and industrial purposes.