Which one of the following compounds has the smallest mass percent of fluorine (F)?

• A. HF
• B. NaF
• C. CaF2
• D. SF6

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the molecular formula of each compound and determine the number of fluorine (F) atoms in each: HF has 1 F atom, NaF has 1 F atom, CaF2 has 2 F atoms, and SF6 has 6 F atoms.
2. Calculate the molar mass of each compound by summing the atomic masses of all atoms present. Use atomic masses approximately as: H = 1 g/mol, Na = 23 g/mol, Ca = 40 g/mol, S = 32 g/mol, and F = 19 g/mol.
3. Calculate the total mass contributed by fluorine atoms in each compound by multiplying the number of fluorine atoms by the atomic mass of fluorine (19 g/mol).
4. Determine the mass percent of fluorine in each compound using the formula: \(\text{Mass \% of F} = \left( \frac{\text{Mass of F in compound}}{\text{Molar mass of compound}} \right) \times 100\).
5. Compare the mass percent values calculated for each compound to identify which one has the smallest mass percent of fluorine.