Final answer:
To determine the simplest formula for an iron oxide compound, the masses of iron and oxygen are converted to moles, and the mole ratio is established. The mole ratio suggests an empirical formula of Fe2O3 option (b), which is iron (III) oxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how to determine the simplest formula for an oxide of iron given the masses of iron and oxygen in the compound. First, the moles of each element have to be calculated by dividing the given mass by the respective atomic weight: Fe (55.85 g/mol) and O (16.00 g/mol).
The resulting moles are then used to find the mole ratio, which in this case gives a ratio close to Fe:O = 2:3. This indicates that the empirical formula of the compound is Fe₂O₃, which corresponds to iron (III) oxide.