When mercury oxide is heated, it decomposes into mercury and oxygen. If 26.8 g of mercury oxide decomposes, producing 1.8 g oxygen, what is the percent by mass of mercury in mercury oxide?
2HgO ==> 2Hg + O2
mols HgO = grams/molar mass = ?
Using the coefficients in the balanced equation, convert mols HgO to mols O2
Then convert mols O2 to g. grams = mols x molar mass. This is the theoretical yield (TY). The actual yield (AY) is 1.8g
%yield = (AY/TY)*100 = ?
To find the percent by mass of mercury in mercury oxide, we need to determine the mass of mercury in the compound.
First, we need to calculate the mass of oxygen produced during the decomposition. We are given that 1.8 g of oxygen is produced, so the mass of oxygen in mercury oxide is 1.8 g.
Next, we need to find the mass of mercury in mercury oxide by subtracting the mass of oxygen from the total mass of mercury oxide.
Mass of mercury = Total mass of mercury oxide - Mass of oxygen
Mass of mercury = 26.8 g - 1.8 g
Mass of mercury = 25 g
Now that we know the mass of mercury in mercury oxide is 25 g, we can calculate the percent by mass of mercury.
Percent by mass = (Mass of mercury / Mass of mercury oxide) x 100%
Percent by mass = (25 g / 26.8 g) x 100%
Percent by mass = 93.28%
Therefore, the percent by mass of mercury in mercury oxide is approximately 93.28%.