Percent Composition

Name: ______Date: ______

Purpose: To calculate the percent composition of sugar in a piece of gum

Materials: One piece of gum, balance

Procedure:

1.  Obtain a piece of gum and record the brand name in the table below.

2.  Take the mass of your unwrapped piece of gum and record it to the nearest 0.01g.

3.  Unwrap the piece of gum and begin chewing it. Do not discard the wrapper!

4.  Take the mass of the gum wrapper and record it to the nearest 0.01g. Save the wrapper!

5.  Chew the piece of gum for at least 15 minutes.

6.  Place the gum in its original wrapper and record the mass to the nearest 0.01g.

7.  Dispose of the wrapped gum in the nearest garbage can

Data:

Brand of gum used
Mass of unchewed gum + wrapper
Mass of empty wrapper
Mass of chewed gum + wrapper

Calculations:

1.  Calculate the mass (in grams) of the unchewed piece of gum

2.  Calculate the mass (in grams) of the chewed piece of gum

3.  Calculate the mass (in grams) of the sugar that was lost during chewing

4.  Calculate the percentage, by mass, of sugar in your piece of gum

5.  Determine the accepted value for the percent of sugar in the brand of gum that you chewed, using the nutrition labels given below, then calculate the percent error between this value and your measured value.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size 1 stick(3g)
Calories 10
Amount per serving / %DV*
Total Fat / 0g / 0%
Sodium / 0mg / 0%
Total Carb / 2g / 1%
Sugars / 2g
Protein / 0g
*Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Facts
Serving size 1 piece (5.6g)
Calories 15
Amount per serving / %DV*
Total Fat / 0g / 0%
Sodium / 0mg / 1%
Total Carb / 4g / 2%
Sugars / 4g
Protein / 0g
*Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

www.cadburyadams.com

www.wrigley.com www.dubblebubble.com

Conclusions:

Compare and contrast your measured percentage of sugar, and the actual percentage from the nutrition label for the brand of gum that you used. Discuss possible reasons for any differences in these values, and how you might increase the accuracy of your data collection. Would your dentist recommend that you chew this brand of gum? Did your result surprise you at all?