To determine which compound has the greatest percentage of oxygen, we need to compare the number of oxygen atoms in each compound relative to the total number of atoms.
Let's calculate the percentages for each compound:
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Number of oxygen atoms: 2
- Number of carbon atoms: 1
- Total number of atoms: 3
- Percentage of oxygen: (2 / 3) × 100 = 66.67%
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Number of oxygen atoms: 1
- Number of nitrogen atoms: 2
- Total number of atoms: 3
- Percentage of oxygen: (1 / 3) × 100 ≈ 33.33%
Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
- Number of oxygen atoms: 2
- Number of sulfur atoms: 1
- Total number of atoms: 3
- Percentage of oxygen: (2 / 3) × 100 = 66.67%
Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4)
- Number of oxygen atoms: 4
- Number of sulfur atoms: 1
- Number of magnesium atoms: 1
- Total number of atoms: 6
- Percentage of oxygen: (4 / 6) × 100 ≈ 66.67%
Comparing the percentages, we see that carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) all have the same highest percentage of oxygen, which is approximately 66.67%. Nitrous oxide (N2O) has the lowest percentage of oxygen, which is approximately 33.33%.
Therefore, the compounds with the greatest percentage of oxygen are carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4).