Question

Calculate the mass percent of calcium,phosphorus and oxygen in calcium phosphate $C{a}_3(P{O}_4{)}_2$

Answer 1

Determining mass of calcium phosphate, calcium, phosphorus and oxygen

Molar mass of $C{a}_3(P{O}_4{)}_2=(3^{\ast }40)+({31}^{\ast }2)+({16}^{\ast }8)=310g/mol$

Molar mass of Calcium(Ca) = 40 g/mol
Molar mass of phosphorus(P) = 31 g/mol
Molar mass of Oxygen(O) = 16 g/mol

Calculating mass percent for Ca, P and O

Total mass of calcium present in 1 mole of $C{a}_3(P{O}_4{)}_2=3\times 40=120g$

Total mass of Phosphorus present in 1 mole of $C{a}_3(P{O}_4{)}_2=2\times 31=62g$

Total mass of Oxygen present in 1 mole of $C{a}_3(P{O}_4{)}_2=8\times 16=128g$

Mass percentage = $\frac{Massofcomponent\left(g\right)}{MassofC{a}_3\left(P{O}_4{)}_2\right(g)}\times 100$

Mass percent of Ca = $\left(\frac{120}{310}\right)\times 100=38.71$%

Mass percent of P = $\left(\frac{62}{310}\right)\times 100=20$%

Mass percent of O = $\left(\frac{128}{310}\right)\times 100=41.29$%

Hence, mass percent of calcium, phosphorus and oxygen in $C{a}_3(P{O}_4{)}_2$ are 38.71%, 20% and 41.29% respectively.