Answer: The percentage by weight of sodium in sodium sulfate is 32.37 %.
Explanation:
In \(Na_2SO_4\), there are 2 sodium atoms, 1 sulfur atom and 4 oxygen atoms.
To calculate the mass percent of element in a given compound, we use the formula:
\(\text{Mass percent of sodium}=\frac{\text{Mass of sodium}}{\text{Molar mass of sodium sulfate}}\times 100\)
Mass of sodium = \((2\times 22.99)=45.98g\)
Mass of sodium sulfate = \([(2\times 22.99)+32.07+(4\times 16)]=142.05g\)
Putting values in above equation, we get:
\(\text{Mass percent of sodium}=\frac{45.98g}{142.05}\times 100=32.37\%\)
Hence, the mass percent of sodium in sodium sulfate is 32.37%.
