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A compound contains 40% calcium, 12% carbon, and 48% oxygen by mass. What is the empirical formula of this compound?

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5 votes

Answer:

3

Step-by-step explanation:

Step-by-step explanation:

Although you have not been provided with direct masses, you can use the percentage composition values in place of masses.

First, calculate the number of moles of each element:

This is the formula for the ionic compound calcium carbonate, confirming that our result is indeed in the magnitude of a plausible answer. In fact, given the fact that calcium carbonate is ionic, it is also true that this empirical formula equates to the unit formula of the compound.

User Pierrick Rambaud
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