Chapter 3.5, Problem 1RC

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The percent composition by mass of $\text{Hg}$ is greater or less than oxygen in ${\text{[Hg(NO}}_{\text{3}}{\text{)}}_{\text{2}}\text{]}$ has to be estimated without doing mathematical calculations.

Concept Introduction:

Percent composition by mass:

It is the percentage of each element in terms of mass in a compound. It is calculated by dividing mass of each element in one mole of the compound by the molar mass of the compound which then multiplied by $100$.

$\text{Percent composition by mass}\text{=}\frac{\text{n}\text{×}\text{molar}\text{mass}\text{of}\text{element}}{\text{molar}\text{mass}\text{of}\text{compound}}\times 100\%$