Kaolinite, a clay mineral with the formula Al4Si4O10 (OH) 8, is used as a filler in slick-paper for magazines and as a raw material for ceramics. Analysis shows that 14.35 g of kaolinite contains 8.009 g of oxygen. Calculate the mass percent of oxygen in kaolinite.

55.81%

Explanation:

Mass percentage composition of an element in a compound can be calculated by dividing the mass of the element in the compound by the relative formula mass of the compound and expressing it as a percentage.

Therefore;

% composition = (Mass of the element / relative formula mass) 100%

In this case;

We are given the mass of the element (oxygen) and the mass of the compound (Kaolinite) thus;

Mass % of oxygen in kaolinite = (Mass of oxygen / mass of Kaolinite) 100%

% composition of Oxygen = (8.009 g/14.35 g) 100%

= 55.81 %

Therefore; the mass percent of oxygen in Kaolinite is 55.81%