Question

Sodium hydroxide, NaOH; sodium phosphate, Na3PO4; and sodium nitrate, NaNO3, are all common chemicals used in cleanser formulation. Rank the compounds in order from largest mass percent of sodium to smallest mass percent of sodium.

Answer 1

NaOH:
(1x23) / (1x23 + 1x16 + 1x1) = 57.5 %

Na3PO4
(3x23) / (3x23 + 1x31 + 4x16) = 42.07%

NaNO3
(1x23) / (1x23 + 1x14 + 3x16) = 27.05%

So, NaOH > Na3PO4 > NaNO3