Answer
The empirical formula for this compound is K₂CO₃
Explanaion
Given:
% composition: 56.4% potassium, 8.7% carbon, 34.9% oxygen.
What to find:
The empirical formula for the compound.
Step-by-step Solution:
Assume we have 100 grams total of the substance.
Grams Potassium: 56.4 g
Grams Carbon: 8.7 g
Grams Oxygen: 34.9 g
Now, let's convert the number of grams of each element into moles below:
Moles potassium: 56.4 g/39.1 g/mol = 1.44 mol
Moles carbon: 8.7 g/12.0 g/mol = 0.725 mol
Moles oxygen: 34.9 g/16.0 g/mol = 2.18 mol
Now, let's divide the number of moles of each element by the smallest number obtained:
Potassium = 1.44 mol/0.725 mol = 2
Carbon = 0.725 mol/0.725 mol = 1
Oxygen = 2.18 mol/0.725 mol = 3
Therefore, the empirical formula for this compound is K₂CO₃