# How can I calculate the percent composition of magnesium oxide?

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#### Explanation

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#### Explanation:

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56
Sep 26, 2016

You must know the formula, i.e. atomic composition of magnesium oxide, and then it would be easy to convert the atomic composition into weight composition, through simple reasoning, given the atomic masses of the elements in it.

#### Explanation:

Magnesium oxide has formula MgO (that is, $M {g}_{1} {O}_{1}$).
This means that in every sample of this substance there is the same number of Oxygen and Magnesium atoms.

From the periodic table we see that the atomic masses are 24.3 (Mg) and 16.0 (O). Magnesium atoms are heavier than oxygen atoms, so we expect more than 50% of magnesium in the weight composition.

Taking just one atom of Mg and one atom of O you will get a mass of 16.0 + 24.3 = 40.3 for the unit that represents the minimum amount of magnesium oxide.

There is a 16.0/40.3 • 100 = 39.7% in mass of oxygen, and
24.3/40.3 • 100 = 60.3% in mass of magnesium in it.

These percentages are the same if you take 1000 or one billion of couples $M g O$ in any amount of this substance.

Hope this will help.

Here is a video which discusses how to calculate percent composition for a iron oxide compound using experimental data.

This video is of an experiment which gives data you can use to calculate the percent composition of MgO.

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The text passage provides a question about calculating the percent composition of magnesium oxide and then gives a detailed explanation of how to do so, including the formula and the calculation steps.
single_question_with_answer
Given a text passage, determine:
    1. If it contains a mathematical question (including word problems or calculations)
    2. If an answer to that mathematical question is provided in the text

First, describe the content structure you found in 1-2 sentences.

Then provide your analysis in the following format:
TYPE: <one of the following values>
- NO_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS_WITH_ANSWERS
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# How can I calculate the percent composition of magnesium oxide?

Then teach the underlying concepts
Don't copy without citing sources
preview
?

#### Explanation

Explain in detail...

#### Explanation:

I want someone to double check my answer

56
Sep 26, 2016

You must know the formula, i.e. atomic composition of magnesium oxide, and then it would be easy to convert the atomic composition into weight composition, through simple reasoning, given the atomic masses of the elements in it.

#### Explanation:

Magnesium oxide has formula MgO (that is, $M {g}_{1} {O}_{1}$).
This means that in every sample of this substance there is the same number of Oxygen and Magnesium atoms.

From the periodic table we see that the atomic masses are 24.3 (Mg) and 16.0 (O). Magnesium atoms are heavier than oxygen atoms, so we expect more than 50% of magnesium in the weight composition.

Taking just one atom of Mg and one atom of O you will get a mass of 16.0 + 24.3 = 40.3 for the unit that represents the minimum amount of magnesium oxide.

There is a 16.0/40.3 • 100 = 39.7% in mass of oxygen, and
24.3/40.3 • 100 = 60.3% in mass of magnesium in it.

These percentages are the same if you take 1000 or one billion of couples $M g O$ in any amount of this substance.

Hope this will help.

Here is a video which discusses how to calculate percent composition for a iron oxide compound using experimental data.

This video is of an experiment which gives data you can use to calculate the percent composition of MgO.

• 14 minutes ago
• 20 minutes ago
• 21 minutes ago
• 24 minutes ago
• A minute ago
• 2 minutes ago
• 6 minutes ago
• 8 minutes ago
• 10 minutes ago
• 12 minutes ago
• 14 minutes ago
• 20 minutes ago
• 21 minutes ago
• 24 minutes ago
user
The text passage provides a question about calculating the percent composition of magnesium oxide and then gives a detailed explanation of how to do so, including the formula and the calculation steps.

TYPE: SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER