Question

Opal is a hydrated form of silica. If a laboratory analysis of a sample of opal reveals it to contain29.2% Si, 33.3%O, and 37.5% H 22 O, what is its empirical formula?

Answer 1

Let us assume that there is a 100g sample of Opal. The masses of each element will be:
29.2g Si
33.3g O
37.5g H2O
Now we divide each constituent's mass by its Mr to get the moles present
Si: (29.2 / 28) = 1.04
O: (33.3 / 16) = 2.08
H2O: (37.5 / 18) = 2.08
Now we divide by the smallest number and obtain:
Si: 1
O: 2
H2O: 2
Thus, the empirical formula of Opal is:
SiO2 . 2H2O