Answer to Question #114732 in Inorganic Chemistry for Oluwaseun Ibitoye

Question

A sample of potassium chlorate is known to contain some impurities. It is found that K+ makes up 9.5% of the entire mass of the sample. All of the K+ comes from potassium chlorate compound. Find the percent mass of potassium chlorate in the sample.

Answer 1

Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the molecular formula KClO₃.

Proportion:

39.1 amu (1 K atom) — 9.5 %

(39.1 + 35.45 + 3×(16.0)) amu (KClO₃) — x %

39.1 amu (1 K atom) — 9.5 %

122.55 amu (KClO₃) — x %

x = 29.78 %

Answer: 29.78 %