Calculating the Mass Percent of Silicon in Sodium Silicate

Sodium silicate, broadly denoted as Na2SiO3, is a versatile compound with a wide range of industrial applications. One common question that arises is how to calculate the mass percent of silicon in sodium silicate. This article will guide you through the process step by step.

Molecular Structure and Molar Mass of Sodium Silicate (Na2SiO3)

Sodium silicate is a fascinating compound composed of sodium ions (Na ) and silicate ions (SiO32-). Its chemical formula is Na2SiO3, where sodium is the cation and silicate is the anion. The molecular structure is stabilized by ionic bonds.

Molar Mass Calculation

First, let's break down the molar mass of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) into its constituent parts:

Sodium (Na): Molar mass 22.99 g/mol Silicon (Si): Molar mass 28.09 g/mol Oxygen (O): Molar mass 16.00 g/mol (3 atoms)

The total molar mass of Na2SiO3 can be calculated as follows:

2(Na) Si 3(O) 2(22.99) 28.09 3(16.00) 45.98 28.09 48.00 122.07 g/mol

Rounded to the nearest whole number, we get 122 g/mol.

Mass Percent Calculation

The mass percent of an element in a compound is important in various fields, including chemistry and industrial applications. It represents the percentage of the element's mass in the total mass of the compound. The calculation for the mass percent of silicon in sodium silicate follows this formula:

Mass Percent (Si) (mass of Si / molar mass of Na2SiO3) x 100%

Given that the molar mass of sodium silicate is 122 g/mol, and it contains 28 g of silicon:

Mass Percent (Si) (28 g / 122 g) x 100% ≈ 23.08%

Around 23% of sodium silicate is composed of silicon.

Applying to 100 g of Sodium Silicate

Now, if we have 100 g of sodium silicate, we can easily find the mass of silicon in it:

Mass of Si in 100 g of Na2SiO3 (28 g / 122 g) x 100 g ≈ 22.95 g

Rounded to the nearest whole number, approximately 23 grams of silicon can be found in 100 grams of sodium silicate.

Conclusion

Calculating the mass percent of silicon in sodium silicate is a straightforward process involving the molar masses of its constituent elements. Understanding this fraction is vital for industrial applications, chemical reactions, and practical uses in manufacturing processes.

Understanding the composition of sodium silicate allows for better application in areas such as adhesive preparations, glass manufacturing, and water treatment. If you have any further questions or need assistance with similar calculations, feel free to explore more online resources or consult with a chemist.

Note: This calculation assumes that the 100 grams of sodium silicate is pure and contains the same proportion of silicon as given. Variations in purity or impurities may affect the actual percentage.