Answer:
empirical formula: [tex]H_2SO_4[/tex]
2 g H
32.7 g S
65.3 g O
Explanation:
Like the problem said, the first thing we can do is calculate the mass of each of the 3 elements in a 100-gram sample:
- 2.00% * 100g = 2 g H
- 32.7% * 100g = 32.7 g S
- 65.3% * 100g = 65.3 g O
Now we need to find the empirical formula from these. To do so, convert all of those masses into moles by using the molar mass for each element:
- the molar mass of H is 1.01 g/mol
- the molar mass of S is 32.06 g/mol
- the molar mass of O is 16 g/mol
2 g H ÷ 1.01 g/mol = 1.98 mol H
32.7 g S ÷ 32.06 g/mol = 1.02 mol S
65.3 g O ÷ 16 g/mol = 4.08 mol O
Our ratio of H : S : O is now:
1.98 mol : 1.02 mol : 4.08 mol
Divide them all by the smallest number, which is 1.02:
1.98/1.02 : 1.02/1.02 : 4.08/1.02
1.94 : 1 : 4
1.94 ≈ 2
So:
2 : 1 : 4
Thus, the empirical formula is: [tex]H_2SO_4[/tex].
