A Group of Students Analyzed a Penny: Calculate the %Cu in the Penny

What is the percentage of Cu in the penny analyzed by the students?

The percentage of Cu in this penny is approximately 2.84%.

Calculating %Cu in the Penny

A group of students analyzed a penny and found that the mass of the penny was 2.537 grams. They also determined that the mass of Cu in the penny was 0.072 grams. To calculate the percentage of Cu in the penny, we need to follow these steps:

1. First, find the mass of Cu in the penny. The mass of Cu is given as 0.072 grams.
2. Next, divide the mass of Cu by the total mass of the penny: 0.072 grams / 2.537 grams = 0.0283.
3. To convert the decimal to a percentage, multiply by 100: 0.0283 * 100 = 2.84%.

Therefore, the percentage of Cu in this penny is approximately 2.84%.