Understanding the Composition of Pyrite: Percentage of Iron and Sulfur
What is the percentage of iron and sulfur in pyrite?
A 7.50g sample of pyrite (FeS2) contains 3.49g of iron. How can we calculate the percentage of iron and sulfur in pyrite?
Calculation:
To calculate the percentage of iron and sulfur in pyrite, we can follow these steps:
1. Determine the mass of sulfur in the compound:
mass of sulfur = Total mass of pyrite - mass of iron
mass of sulfur = 7.50g - 3.49g = 4.01g
2. Calculate the % by mass of each element:
% mass of iron = (mass of iron / total mass of pyrite) x 100%
% mass of sulfur = (mass of sulfur / total mass of pyrite) x 100%
By using these formulas, we can find that the percentage of iron is 46.53% and sulfur is 53.46% in pyrite.
Explanation:
Pyrite, also known as fools gold, is a mineral composed of iron and sulfur. The given data indicates that a 7.50g sample of pyrite contains 3.49g of iron, allowing us to calculate the mass of sulfur in the compound and determine the percentage composition of each element.
By dividing the mass of each element by the total mass of the compound and multiplying by 100, we obtain the percentage of iron and sulfur in pyrite. This calculation provides valuable insight into the chemical makeup of pyrite and helps understand its properties.
Understanding the composition of pyrite is essential in various fields, including geology, chemistry, and mineralogy. By analyzing the percentage of elements present in pyrite, researchers and scientists can gain a deeper understanding of its structure and formation.