Final answer:
To determine the formula of a sulfur oxide, the masses of sulfur and oxygen involved in the reaction are used to calculate the moles of each element. Then, the simplest whole number ratio provides the empirical formula, which in this case is SO2, sulfur dioxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how to determine the formula of a sulfur oxide given the following information: 3.2g of sulfur reacts with oxygen to produce 6.4g of sulfur oxide, and the atomic masses (Ar) of sulfur and oxygen are 32 and 16, respectively. To find the formula of the sulfur oxide, we must use stoichiometry and the law of conservation of mass.
First, calculate the number of moles of sulfur used:
moles of sulfur = mass of sulfur / Ar of sulfur = 3.2g / 32 = 0.1 mol.
Then, calculate the mass of oxygen that reacted by subtracting the mass of sulfur from the mass of the sulfur oxide: mass of oxygen = mass of sulfur oxide - mass of sulfur = 6.4g - 3.2g = 3.2g.
Now, calculate the moles of oxygen that reacted: moles of oxygen = mass of oxygen / Ar of oxygen = 3.2g / 16 = 0.2 mol.
Finally, find the simplest whole number ratio of sulfur to oxygen in the compound: the ratio is 0.1 mol S to 0.2 mol O, which simplifies to 1:2. Thus, the empirical formula of the sulfur oxide is SO2, sulfur dioxide.