Final answer:
Avogadro's number is not required when determining the empirical formula from mass percent data. The process involves using mass percentages, molar masses, and mass of each element to find the simplest mole ratio, which is then represented as the empirical formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
The task involved in determining the empirical formula of a compound from mass percent data that is NOT required is 'd) Avogadro's number'. Avogadro's number is used to relate the molar mass of a substance to the mass of a single particle, but it is not needed when converting mass percent data directly to moles to find the empirical formula. In this process, the following steps are typically involved:
- Finding the mass percent composition of each element in the compound (given or calculated from experimental data).
- Assuming a certain mass of the compound, often 100 grams for simplicity, and calculating the mass of each element within that sample.
- Using the molar mass of each element to convert the mass of each to moles.
- Deriving the simplest whole-number ratio of moles of elements, which represents the empirical formula.
Avogadro's number does not factor into these steps. However, determining the molecular formula does require the molar mass of the compound, but the empirical formula must be known first to make this determination.