Question

A 11.39g sample of compound contains 7.27g Fe, 1.34g P, and O. Calculate the empirical formula of the compound.

Answer 1

To calculate the empirical formula of a compound, find the mass of each element, then the number of moles, and finally divide by the smallest number of moles to get the ratio of the elements.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the empirical formula of a compound, we need to determine the ratio of the elements present in the compound. Here's how you can do it:

1. First, find the mass of each element in the compound. In this case, Fe has a mass of 7.27g and P has a mass of 1.34g.
2. Next, find the number of moles of each element by dividing the mass of the element by its molar mass. The molar mass of Fe is 55.85 g/mol and the molar mass of P is 30.97 g/mol.
3. Finally, divide the number of moles of each element by the smallest number of moles to get the ratio of the elements. In this case, the ratio is approximately Fe: 0.13, P: 0.04

The empirical formula is Fe3P.