Question

1. vinegar, a common household item, is used in cleaning, cooking, baking and meat preservation. vinegar contains acetic acid, $ch_{3}cooh$, which gives vinegar its sour taste and pungent smell. what is the percent composition of carbon in acetic acid? 40.0% 20.0% 41.4% 33.3%

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate molar mass of \(CH_3COOH\)

Molar mass of \(C = 12\space g/mol\), \(H=1\space g/mol\), \(O = 16\space g/mol\).
Molar mass of \(CH_3COOH=(2\times12)+(4\times1)+(2\times16)=60\space g/mol\)

Step2: Calculate mass of carbon

There are 2 carbon atoms. Mass of carbon \(=2\times12 = 24\space g\)

Step3: Calculate percent composition of carbon

Percent composition of carbon \(=\frac{24}{60}\times100\% = 40\%\)

Answer:

40.0%