Answer:
IO₂
Step-by-step explanation:
We have been given the mass percentages of the elements that makes up the compound:
Mass percentage given are:
Iodine = 79.86%
Oxygen = 20.14%
To calculate the empirical formula which is the simplest formula of the compound, we follow these steps:
> Express the mass percentages as the mass of the elements of the compound.
> Find the number of moles by dividing through by the atomic masses
> Divide by the smallest and either approximate to nearest whole number or multiply through by a factor.
> The ratio is the empirical formula of the compound.
Solution:
I O
% of elements 79.86 20.14
Mass (in g) 79.86 20.14
Moles(divide by
Atomic mass) 79.86/127 20.14/16
Moles 0.634 1.259
Dividing by
Smallest 0.634/0.634 1.259/0.634
1 2
The empirical formula is IO₂