What is the mass percent of hydrogen in methane (CH_4)?

• A. 12.5%
• B. 4.04%
• C. 50.00%
• D. 25.13%

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the molecular formula of methane, which is CH_4, meaning it contains 1 carbon atom and 4 hydrogen atoms.
2. Find the atomic masses of carbon and hydrogen from the periodic table: carbon (C) has an atomic mass of approximately 12.01 g/mol, and hydrogen (H) has an atomic mass of approximately 1.008 g/mol.
3. Calculate the molar mass of methane by summing the masses of all atoms in the molecule: \(\text{Molar mass of CH}_4 = (1 \times 12.01) + (4 \times 1.008)\) g/mol.
4. Calculate the total mass of hydrogen in one mole of methane: \(\text{Mass of H} = 4 \times 1.008\) g.
5. Determine the mass percent of hydrogen in methane using the formula: \(\text{Mass \% of H} = \left( \frac{\text{Mass of H}}{\text{Molar mass of CH}_4} \right) \times 100\%\).