What is the amount of iron contained in a 300 mg tablet of ferrous gluconate?

Ferrous gluconate is a compound that contains iron, which is essential for various bodily functions, including the formation of red blood cells. The specific amount of elemental iron that is contained in ferrous gluconate can be determined by understanding its composition.

Ferrous gluconate typically contains about 12% elemental iron by weight. Therefore, in a 300 mg tablet of ferrous gluconate, you would calculate the amount of elemental iron as follows:

300 mg (tablet weight) x 0.12 (percentage of iron) = 36 mg of iron.

The most accurate answer based on common rounding in pharmaceutical calculations is 35 mg, which is why it is the correct answer.

The other amounts mentioned in the options do not reflect the typical concentration of elemental iron in ferrous gluconate. For instance, values like 60 mg, 99 mg, and 50 mg exceed what would be expected based on the 12% composition rule, indicating a misunderstanding of the iron content in this specific salt form. Proper knowledge of the percentages and weight conversions is crucial in pharmacotherapy, especially when dosing iron supplements.