Final answer:
The molecular formula of compound X is P3S6.
Step-by-step explanation:
The molecular formula for compound X can be determined by calculating the empirical formula and then using the molar mass to find the molecular formula.
To find the empirical formula, we convert the mass percentage of each element to moles. The molar mass of phosphorus is 31 g/mol, and the molar mass of sulfur is 32 g/mol. Assuming a 100 g sample, we have 39.17 g of phosphorus and 60.83 g of sulfur.
Using the moles of each element, we can find the simplest whole number ratio between them. The ratio is approximately 1:2. Therefore, the empirical formula is P1S2.
To find the molecular formula, we need to know the molar mass of the compound. The molar mass of compound X is given as 316.29 g/mol. Since the molar mass of the empirical formula P1S2 is 95 g/mol, we can divide the molar mass of the compound by the molar mass of the empirical formula to find the ratio of the molecular formula to the empirical formula: 316.29 g/mol ÷ 95 g/mol = 3.33. Rounding to the nearest whole number, the molecular formula of compound X is P3S6.