Zircon is a mineral with the empirical formula ZrSiO4. If all the zirconium is 90Zr, all the silicon is 28Si, and all the oxygen is 16O, what mass of oxygen is present in 10. g of zircon?

The mass of oxygen present in 10 grams of Zircon is 3.5 grams.

Based on the given information,  

•The empirical formula of Zircon is ZrSiO4.

•The molecular mass of zirconium is 90 g/mol, the molecular mass of silicon is 28 g/mol, and the molecular mass of oxygen is 16 g/mol.  

Now the molar mass of ZrSiO4 is,

Now 1 mole of Zircon has 4 mole of oxygen, then 182 grams of Zircon will exhibit 4×16 grams of oxygen.

Now the mass of oxygen present in 10 grams of Zircon is,

Thus, in 10 grams of Zircon, 3.5 grams of oxygen is present.

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3.52g

Explanation:

Zr = 90 g/mol

Si = 28 g/mol

O = 16 g/mol

ZrSiO4 = 90 + 28 + (16* 4) = 182g/mol

Mass =  Numberof moles * Molar mass

Mass = 1mol *  182g/mol = 182g

In one mole of ZrSiO4, there are 4 oxygen atoms, hence the mass is given as;

4 * 16 = 64g

Hence, 64g of oxygen is present in 182g of ZrSiO4.

10g would contain x

64 = 182

x = 10

x = ( 10 * 64 ) / 182

x = 640 / 182 = 3.52g