percentage problem

[physicsss]

a mixture of NaNO3 and Na2SO4 of mass 5.37g contains 1.61g of sodium, what is percentage by mass of NaNO3 in the mixture?

[danne89]

Hmm. Sodium? Which formula is that?

[physicsss]

Um..........Na?

[chem_tr]

You have already solved the question, just do the dividing operation and multiply by 100 to learn the percentage.

[physicsss]

Divide what by what? both compunds contain Na...

[chem_tr]

1.61/5.37*100=29.98% total sodium is present in the mixture.

Na=23, N=14, O=16, S=32 and NaNO3 is 48+14+23=85 g/mol, whereas Na2SO4 is 46+32+64=142 g/mol.

Devise an equation, in which x moles of nitrate and y moles of sulfate is present, and make it equal to 5.37. Use mole amounts to learn x and y by making them equal to 1.61. It shouldn't be hard...