An alloy contains 59 g of pure silver and 17 g of pure copper. What is the percentage of silver in the alloy? Express your answer to two significant figures and include the appropriate units.

Answer 1

To find the percentage of silver in the alloy, we need to divide the mass of pure silver by the total mass of the alloy and multiply by 100%:

Percentage of silver = (mass of pure silver / total mass of alloy) * 100%

Mass of pure silver = 59 g
Mass of pure copper = 17 g

Total mass of alloy = Mass of pure silver + Mass of pure copper
Total mass of alloy = 59 g + 17 g
Total mass of alloy = 76 g

Percentage of silver = (59 g / 76 g) * 100%
Percentage of silver = 0.776 * 100%
Percentage of silver = 77.6%

Therefore, the percentage of silver in the alloy is 77.6%.