Questions: Sylvanite is a mineral that contains 28.0% gold by mass. How much sylvanite would you need to dig up to obtain 64.0 g of gold? Express your answer with the appropriate units.
Transcript text: Sylvanite is a mineral that contains $28.0 \%$ gold by mass. How much sylvanite would you need to dig up to obtain 64.0 g of gold? Express your answer with the appropriate units.
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understand the Problem
We need to find out how much sylvanite is required to obtain 64.0 g of gold, given that sylvanite is 28.0% gold by mass.
Step 2: Set Up the Equation
Let \( x \) be the mass of sylvanite needed. Since 28.0% of the mass of sylvanite is gold, we can write the equation:
\[
0.28x = 64.0 \, \text{g}
\]
Step 3: Solve for \( x \)
To find \( x \), divide both sides of the equation by 0.28:
\[
x = \frac{64.0}{0.28}
\]
Step 4: Calculate the Mass of Sylvanite
Perform the division to find \( x \):
\[
x = 228.5714 \, \text{g}
\]
Step 5: Round to Appropriate Significant Figures
Round the result to four significant figures:
\[
x = 228.6 \, \text{g}
\]
Final Answer
The mass of sylvanite needed is \(\boxed{228.6 \, \text{g}}\).