Final answer:
To find the number of moles of MgS2O3 in 171 g of the compound, divide the given mass by the molar mass of MgS2O3.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the number of moles of MgS2O3 in 171 g of the compound, we need to use the molar mass of MgS2O3. The molar mass of MgS2O3 is calculated by adding up the atomic masses of each element in the compound. The atomic masses are: Mg (24.31 g/mol), S (32.07 g/mol), and O (16.00 g/mol). Adding them up, we get: 24.31 + (2 * 32.07) + (3 * 16.00) = 120.92 g/mol.
To calculate the number of moles, we divide the given mass (171 g) by the molar mass (120.92 g/mol). So, 171 g / 120.92 g/mol = 1.413 moles. Therefore, there are 1.413 moles of MgS2O3 in 171 g of the compound.