Ascorbic acid (vitamin C, C₆H₈O₆) is a water-soluble vitamin. A solution containing 80.5 g of ascorbic acid dissolved in 210 g of water has a density of 1.22 g/mL at 55 °C. Calculate (a) the mass percentage,

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the formula for mass percentage: \( \text{Mass percentage} = \left( \frac{\text{mass of solute}}{\text{mass of solution}} \right) \times 100 \% \).
2. Determine the mass of the solute, which is the ascorbic acid, given as 80.5 g.
3. Calculate the mass of the solution by adding the mass of the solute (ascorbic acid) to the mass of the solvent (water), which is 210 g.
4. Substitute the values into the mass percentage formula: \( \text{Mass percentage} = \left( \frac{80.5 \text{ g}}{\text{mass of solution}} \right) \times 100 \% \).
5. Simplify the expression to find the mass percentage of ascorbic acid in the solution.

Key Concepts

Mass Percentage

Mass percentage is a way of expressing the concentration of a component in a mixture. It is calculated by taking the mass of the solute (in this case, ascorbic acid) and dividing it by the total mass of the solution (solute plus solvent), then multiplying by 100 to convert it to a percentage. This concept is essential for understanding how much of a substance is present in a solution relative to the total mass.

Density

Density is defined as mass per unit volume and is a critical property of substances that can affect calculations in chemistry. In this context, the density of the solution (1.22 g/mL) can be used to determine the volume of the solution, which is necessary for calculating the mass percentage. Understanding density helps in converting between mass and volume, especially in solutions.

Solution Composition

The composition of a solution refers to the relative amounts of solute and solvent present. In this case, ascorbic acid is the solute, and water is the solvent. Knowing the composition is vital for calculating various properties of the solution, including mass percentage and molarity, which are important for understanding the behavior of the solution in chemical reactions.