A common source of aluminum is the compound Al2O3. What is the percent aluminum in this compound and What is the largest mass of aluminum that could be obtained from a 2,000 g sample of Al2O3?

Answer 1

Hi Kyle,

The molar mass of aluminum is 26.982 g/mol. The molar mass of oxygen is 15.999 g/mol. Therefore, the molar mass of Al₂O₃ is 2(26.982 g/mol) + 3(15.999 g/mol) = 101.961 g/mol.

The percent aluminum in Al₂O₃ is 100% * 2(26.982 g/mol) / 101.961 g/mol = 52.926%.

The largest mass of aluminum that can be obtained from a 2,000 g sample of Al₂O₃ is 52.926% * 2,000 g = 1059 g.

Hope this helps!