Answer to Question #151848 in General Chemistry for karen

Question

An iron-containing compound is 40.1% Fe, 11.5% S, 43.3% O, and 5.1% H.
What is the empirical formula for this compound?

Answer 1

Solutions:

parameters:

molar mass of the compound

Fe = 40.1%.

S = 11.5%.

O = 43.3%.

H = 5.1%.

Fe. S. O. H

% of elements= 40.1% 11.5% 43.3% 5.1%

mass in (g)= 40.1 11.5 43.3 5.1

mole= 40.1 / 56 11.5 / 32 43.3 / 16 5.1 / 1

mole = 0.7 0.4 2.7 5.1

Divide through.

by the smallest value.= 0.7 / 0.4 0.4 / 0.4 2.7 / 0.4 5.1 / 0.4

mole ratio = 1.8 1 6.8 12.8

Multiply by a factor of 5 to give a whole number ratio.

mole ratio= 9 5 34 64

The emprical formula of the compound is Fe9 S5 O32 H64