IUA-,TERIAL S AND E QUI PME NT Solids: Reagent Grade potassium chlorate (KC1O3)and potassium chloride (KCl). Solutions: dilute (6 M) nitric acid (HNO3) and 0.1M silvernitrate (AgNO3). Th.o No.0 crucibles with covers; Ceramfab pad. DISCUSSION The percentage composition of a compound is the percentage by mass of each element in the compound. If the formula of a compound is known, the percentage composition can be calculated from the molar mass and the total mass of each element in the compound. The molar mass of a compound is determined by adding up the atomic masses of all the atoms making up the formula. The total mass of an element in a compound is determined by multiplying the atomic mass of that element by the number of atoms of that element in the formula. The percentage of each element is then calculated by dividing its total mass in the compound by the molar mass of the compound and multiplying by 100. The percentage composition of many compounds may be directly determined or verified by experimental methods. In this experiment the percentage composition of potassium chlorate will be determined both experimentally and from the formula. When potassium chlorate is heated to high temperatures (above 400'C) it decomposes poto tassium chloride and elemental oxygen, according to the following equation: 2 KCIOB(s) -----+ 2 KCI(s) + 3 Ork) The relative amounts of oxygen and potassium chloride are measured by heating a weighed sample of potassium chlorate and determining the amount of residue (potassium chloride) remaining. The decrease in mass brought about by heating represents the amount of oxygen originally present in the sample. From the experiment we obtain the following three values: 1. Mass of original sample (KCIO3). 2. Mass lost when sample was heated (Oxygen). 3. Mass of residue (KCI). From these experimental values (and a table of atomic masses) we can calculate the following: 4. Percentage oxygen in sample
IUA-,TERIAL S AND E QUI PME NT Solids: Reagent Grade potassium chlorate (KC1O3)and potassium chloride (KCl). Solutions: dilute (6 M) nitric acid (HNO3) and 0.1M silvernitrate (AgNO3). Th.o No.0 crucibles with covers; Ceramfab pad. DISCUSSION The percentage composition of a compound is the percentage by mass of each element in the compound. If the formula of a compound is known, the percentage composition can be calculated from the molar mass and the total mass of each element in the compound. The molar mass of a compound is determined by adding up the atomic masses of all the atoms making up the formula. The total mass of an element in a compound is determined by multiplying the atomic mass of that element by the number of atoms of that element in the formula. The percentage of each element is then calculated by dividing its total mass in the compound by the molar mass of the compound and multiplying by 100. The percentage composition of many compounds may be directly determined or verified by experimental methods. In this experiment the percentage composition of potassium chlorate will be determined both experimentally and from the formula. When potassium chlorate is heated to high temperatures (above 400'C) it decomposes poto tassium chloride and elemental oxygen, according to the following equation: 2 KCIOB(s) -----+ 2 KCI(s) + 3 Ork) The relative amounts of oxygen and potassium chloride are measured by heating a weighed sample of potassium chlorate and determining the amount of residue (potassium chloride) remaining. The decrease in mass brought about by heating represents the amount of oxygen originally present in the sample. From the experiment we obtain the following three values: 1. Mass of original sample (KCIO3). 2. Mass lost when sample was heated (Oxygen). 3. Mass of residue (KCI). From these experimental values (and a table of atomic masses) we can calculate the following: 4. Percentage oxygen in sample