What is the mass percent of sodium (Na) in sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO_3)?

• A. 27.4%
• B. 43.4%
• C. 15.2%
• D. 52.0%

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the chemical formula of sodium hydrogen carbonate, which is NaHCO\_3, and list the elements present: sodium (Na), hydrogen (H), carbon (C), and oxygen (O).
2. Find the atomic masses of each element from the periodic table: Na = 22.99 g/mol, H = 1.01 g/mol, C = 12.01 g/mol, and O = 16.00 g/mol.
3. Calculate the molar mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate by summing the atomic masses of all atoms in the formula: \(M = M_{Na} + M_H + M_C + 3 \times M_O\).
4. Calculate the mass percent of sodium by dividing the atomic mass of sodium by the molar mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate and multiplying by 100%: \(\text{Mass \% Na} = \left( \frac{M_{Na}}{M} \right) \times 100\%\).
5. Interpret the result to determine the mass percent of sodium in sodium hydrogen carbonate, which will help you select the correct answer from the given options.