A 0.600 g sample of a compound of arsenic and oxygen was found to

contain 0.454 g of arsenic. What is the empirical formula of the

compound? *

A. AsO2

B. As2O

C. As2O3

D. AsO

The answer is C. As2O3

Explanation:

0.600 gr of Arsenic and Oxygen.

0.454 gr of Arsenic

So, 0.146 gr of Oxygen will be in the compound.

- First: The grams of each element must be divided by its atomic weight:

0.454 gr As / 74.92u As = 0.00606 0.146 gr O / 16u O = 0.009125

- Both results must be divided by the lowest number found:

0.00606 / 0.00606 = 1 As 0.009125 / 0.00606 = 1.5 O

- As one of the values is not an integer then both results are multiplied until both give an integer:

1 As * 2 = 2 As 1.5 O * 2 = 3 O

- Then the answer is given:

As2O3