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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: ghosttown on February 18, 2020, 09:49:00 PM

Title: In Percent Abundance equations why does the second element use (1-x)?
Post by: ghosttown on February 18, 2020, 09:49:00 PM

 ??? So confusing. Not sure why it uses 1-x instead of just x. Any help? Thanks!!

Title: Re: In Percent Abundance equations why does the second element use (1-x)?
Post by: Borek on February 19, 2020, 02:42:39 AM

Wouldn't hurt to see the equation you refer to, but my guess is that if there are exactly two elements their fractions must add to 1, so if the fraction of the first element is x, fraction of the other element must be 1-x.