Question

Determine the empirical and molecular formula for chrysotile asbestos. Chrysotile has the following percent composition: 28.03% Mg, 21.60% Si, 1.16% H, and 49.21% O. The molar mass for chrysotile is 520.8 g/mol.

a) Empirical formula: MgSiO₃, Molecular formula: Mg₃Si₂O₆H₂
b) Empirical formula: Mg₂SiO₄, Molecular formula: Mg₄Si₂O₈H₄
c) Empirical formula: MgSiO₃H, Molecular formula: Mg₃Siv2O₆H₂
d) Empirical formula: Mg₂SiO₄H₂, Molecular formula: Mg₄Si₂O₈H₄

Answer 1

To determine the empirical and molecular formula for chrysotile asbestos, use the percent composition and molar mass. The empirical formula is Mg3Si2O6H2 and the molecular formula is also Mg3Si2O6H2.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the empirical and molecular formula for chrysotile asbestos, we need to use the percent composition and molar mass. The percent composition shows the relative amounts of each element in the compound, while the molar mass is the mass of one mole of the compound.

Using the given percent composition, we can find the empirical formula by converting percent composition to moles and finding the simplest possible ratio. The empirical formula for chrysotile asbestos is Mg3Si2O6H2.

To determine the molecular formula, we need to compare the empirical formula mass to the molar mass. The molecular formula for chrysotile asbestos is the same as the empirical formula, Mg3Si2O6H2.