Mass Composition

[katherinemurk 2B]

Okay so there are many questions that give you the mass composition of each element in a compound and ask to find the empirical or molecular formula. The percentage of each element adds up to a 100%. What if they did not add up to 100%, how we would go about solving the problem??

[Samantha Chang 2K]

The mass composition percentage has to add up to 100%.

[Chloe Likwong 2K]

The mass composition has to add up to 100% or else you would not be able to do the problem.

[Leela_Mohan3L]

If the mass composition doesn't add up to 100% then that is an indication that there is another element present in the compound. Depending on the problem, you would be able to tell which element is missing. Ex: if the problem was asking you to find the molecular formula of a compound that was burned, the missing element might be oxygen.