Iron in the earth is in the form of iron ore. Common ores include Fe₂O₃ (hematite), Fe₃O₄ (magnetite), and FeCO₃ (siderite). Calculate the mass percent composition of iron for each of these iron ores. Which ore has the highest iron content?

Key Concepts

Mass Percent Composition

Mass percent composition is a way to express the concentration of an element in a compound as a percentage of the total mass of that compound. It is calculated by dividing the mass of the element by the total mass of the compound and multiplying by 100. This concept is essential for determining how much of a specific element, like iron, is present in various iron ores.

Molar Mass

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, typically expressed in grams per mole (g/mol). It is calculated by summing the atomic masses of all the atoms in a chemical formula. Understanding molar mass is crucial for calculating mass percent composition, as it provides the necessary total mass of the compound for the calculations.

Chemical Formula Interpretation

Interpreting chemical formulas involves understanding the ratios of different elements in a compound. For example, in Fe2O3, there are two iron (Fe) atoms and three oxygen (O) atoms. This knowledge is vital for calculating the mass percent of iron in each ore, as it allows for the correct identification of the number of iron atoms relative to the total mass of the compound.