Ammonia can be determined spectrophotometrically by reaction with phenol in the presence of hypochlorite (OCl−):

A 4.37-mg sample of protein was chemically digested to convert its nitrogen into ammonia and then diluted to 100.0 mL. Then 10.0 mL of the solution were placed in a 50-mL volumetric flask and treated with 5 mL of phenol solution plus 2 mL of sodium hypochlorite solution. The sample was diluted to 50.0 mL, and the absorbance at 625 nm was measured in a 1.00-cm cuvet after 30 min. For reference, a standard solution was prepared from 0.010 0 g of NH4Cl (FM 53.49) dissolved in 1.00 L of water. Then 10.0 mL of this standard were placed in a 50-mL volumetric flask and analyzed in the same manner as the unknown. A reagent blank was prepared by using distilled water in place of unknown.

Sample Absorbance at 625 nm

Blank 0.140

Reference 0.308

Unknown 0.592

(a) Calculate the molar absorptivity of the blue product.

(b) Calculate the weight percent of nitrogen in the protein.