Question

What is the empirical formula of a compound that is made of 3.80g of phosphorus and 0.371g of hydrogen?

Answer 1

You start by diving each quantity given by the atomic wight of each element:

Phosphorus (P)
`(3.8)/(31) =0.123`

Hydrogen (H)
`(0.371)/(1) =0.371`

Then you divide by the lowest number:

`(0.123)/(0.123) = 1` for phosphorus

`(0.371)/(0.123) = 3` for hydrogen

So the empirical formula will be:

`PH_(3)`