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Ch.3 - Mass Relationships in Chemical Reactions
Chapter 3, Problem 33

What is the percent composition of cysteine, one of the 20 amino acids commonly found in proteins? (Gray = C, red = O, blue = N, yellow = S, ivory = H.)

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Molecular Formula

The molecular formula of a compound indicates the types and numbers of atoms present in a molecule. For cysteine, the formula is C3H7N1O2S1, which shows it contains 3 carbon (C), 7 hydrogen (H), 1 nitrogen (N), 2 oxygen (O), and 1 sulfur (S) atom. Understanding the molecular formula is essential for calculating percent composition.
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Percent Composition

Percent composition is a way to express the relative amounts of each element in a compound as a percentage of the total mass. It is calculated by dividing the mass of each element in one mole of the compound by the molar mass of the compound, then multiplying by 100. This concept is crucial for determining the contribution of each element in cysteine.
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Molar Mass Calculation

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). To find the molar mass of cysteine, one must sum the molar masses of all its constituent atoms based on the molecular formula. This value is necessary for calculating the percent composition of each element in the amino acid.
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