Ask Question
13 September, 02:05

What is the empirical formula of a compound with a % composition of 40.1% sulfur and 59.9% oxygen?

+4
Answers (1)
  1. 13 September, 02:18
    0
    The empirical formula is SO

    Explanation:

    The empirical formula of a chemical compound is the simplest positive integer ratio of atoms present in a compound.

    Given 40.1% Sulphur and 59.9% oxygen.

    We have to assume the mass of the compound to make our calculations easy.

    Let's assume that the mass of the compound is 100g, that the mass of sulphur will be 40.1g and the mass of oxygen will then be 59.9g.

    Number of moles = reacting mass / molar mass

    Molar mass of Sulphur = 32g/mol

    Molar mass of Oxygen = 16g/mol

    No of moles of S = 40.1g/100g

    =0.401 moles of S

    No of moles of O = 59.9g/100g

    =0.599 moles of O

    •These are the relative mole ratios for the compound,

    •They need to be converted from decimals into whole numbers

    •Turn mole ratio into whole number ratio by dividing by all the elements by the least/smallest number of moles calculated.

    Number of moles of S = 0.401moles/0.401 = 1 mol S

    Number of moles of O = 0.599moles/0.401 = 1.49 mol O which is approximately 1 (to the nearest whole number, considering it tenths' value which is 4 and less than 5)

    The empirical formula is therefore SO.
Know the Answer?
Not Sure About the Answer?
Find an answer to your question 👍 “What is the empirical formula of a compound with a % composition of 40.1% sulfur and 59.9% oxygen? ...” in 📗 Chemistry if the answers seem to be not correct or there’s no answer. Try a smart search to find answers to similar questions.
Search for Other Answers