Answer to Question #278145 in General Chemistry for miyu

Question

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food-flavor enhancer, has been blamed for "Chinese restaurant syndrome," the symptoms of which are headaches and chest pains. MSG has the following composition by mass: 35.51% C, 4.77 % H, 37.85 % O, 8.29 % N, and 13.60% Na. What is its molecular formula if its molar mass is about 169 g?

Answer 1

Percentage composition by mass: 35.51% C, 4.77 % H, 37.85 % O, 8.29 % N, and 13.60% Na

Molar mass: 169.111 g/mol

Formula: C₅H₈NO₄Na