Here's why:
* Sulfur's atomic weight: 32.06 g/mol
* Oxygen's atomic weight: 16.00 g/mol
The molecular weight of SO2 is 32.06 + (16.00 x 2) = 64.06 g/mol.
* Sulfur's percentage: (32.06 g/mol / 64.06 g/mol) x 100% = 50%
* Oxygen's percentage: (32.00 g/mol / 64.06 g/mol) x 100% = 50%
Therefore, sulfur dioxide (SO2) has a 50% sulfur and 50% oxygen composition by mass.