How to Determine the Percent by Mass of Sodium Bicarbonate

The percent composition represents the amount of each element within a compound. Sodium bicarbonate is an ionic compound, composed of sodium metal and the bicarbonate, or hydrogen carbonate ion. Within this compound, each element is not present in the same amount. The purpose of the percent composition is to determine the relative amounts of the elements with respect to the molar mass of the compound. A simple formula can be used to achieve this.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator
• Paper
• Pen
• Periodic table

Instructions

1. Write the molecular formula of sodium bicarbonate.

2. Calculate the total mass of sodium bicarbonate. In order to do this, add the molar masses of the sodium, the hydrogen, the carbon and the oxygen. Within this calculation, multiply the molar mass of the oxygen by three, because sodium bicarbonate contains three moles of oxygen.

3. In order to determine the percent composition of each of the elements, divide the molar mass of the given element, by the total mass of sodium bicarbonate. Then, multiply this value by one hundred.

References

• Indiana University Northwest: Percent Composition