Which process involves determining the quantity of each element in a compound to calculate percent compositions?

The identified process of combustion analysis is specifically designed to determine the amount of each element within a compound, particularly organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and often nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen. In this technique, a sample is combusted in an oxygen-rich environment, facilitating the transformation of the elements into combustion products like carbon dioxide and water. Afterward, the amounts of these products are meticulously measured.

From these measurements, the quantities of carbon and hydrogen can be deduced, allowing chemists to ascertain the overall composition of the original compound. By knowing the total mass of the sample and the amounts of each identified element, it becomes possible to calculate their percent composition within the compound, which is essential for understanding the compound’s chemical makeup and its properties.

The other options do not primarily focus on determining element quantities for calculating percent composition. Distillation is a separation process based on boiling points, titration is a method for determining the concentration of a substance in a solution, and electrolysis involves breaking down compounds using electricity, none of which directly provide the elemental composition data in the same straightforward manner as combustion analysis.