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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: otter on December 07, 2014, 04:30:13 PM

Title: Calculating mass of element in compound?
Post by: otter on December 07, 2014, 04:30:13 PM
I have the following question on homework:

Calculate the mass of P in a sample of CaHPO4 (Dicalcium phosphate).

This seems like a trick question. Would the Phosphorus mass be just as it is in the Periodic table? That is, the answer would be: 30.9g?

I could see if it would be a mass % of the compound, but the question isn't asking for that. So what is there to calculate? What am I missing?

thanks,

Otter
Title: Re: Calculating mass of element in compound?
Post by: sjb on December 07, 2014, 05:23:31 PM
I have the following question on homework:

Calculate the mass of P in a sample of CaHPO4 (Dicalcium phosphate).

This seems like a trick question. Would the Phosphorus mass be just as it is in the Periodic table? That is, the answer would be: 30.9g?

I could see if it would be a mass % of the compound, but the question isn't asking for that. So what is there to calculate? What am I missing?

thanks,

Otter

What are the units of the mass in the periodic table?
Title: Re: Calculating mass of element in compound?
Post by: otter on December 07, 2014, 06:02:08 PM

What are the units of the mass in the periodic table?

As I mentioned above, 30.973
Title: Re: Calculating mass of element in compound?
Post by: otter on December 07, 2014, 06:15:11 PM
UPDATE!!! - I'm sorry, I missed a previous part to this question and took it out of context of the greater problem.

See answer below

again, my apologies.

otter
Title: Re: Calculating mass of element in compound?
Post by: billnotgatez on December 07, 2014, 06:20:57 PM
@otter
Want to share your insight or answer to the question and how you got it?
Title: Re: Calculating mass of element in compound?
Post by: otter on December 07, 2014, 06:59:12 PM
Sorry, yes, it is probably best I clarify.

My intial question was PART B, of a series of questions that started with this assumption:

You have 0.479 g CHPO4

So therefore, the P mass I am looking for in...

Calculate the mass of P in a sample of CaHPO4 (Dicalcium phosphate).

...is based on having an initial amount of 0.479 g of CHPO4.

Answer to initial question. 0.109g of P.

work: 0.479g CHPO4 x 30.97 g P (atomic mass of P) / 136.06 (mass of CHPO4 ) = 0.109g of P

Title: Re: Calculating mass of element in compound?
Post by: Borek on December 08, 2014, 03:22:19 AM

What are the units of the mass in the periodic table?

As I mentioned above, 30.973

Not that it still matters if you have solved the question, but 30.973 is a value, not units.