The empirical formula represents the simplest whole number shows the simplest whole number ratio of atoms in a compound. An example of this is the empirical formula for glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is C₃H₆O₃.
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Answer:
3
Explanation:
It is based on empirical evidence
<span>The mass of one mole of sodium bicarbonate (aka NaHCO3) is equal to 1 * 22.99g/mol + 1 * 1.00g/mol + 1 * 12.01g/mol + 3 * 16.00g/mol = 83.91g/mol. From this, we can convert 4.2g of NaHCO3 to moles by dividing by 83.91g/mol, to get 0.050 moles of sodium bicarbonate.</span>
The molar mass of carbon is 12, hydrogen is 1, and
nitrogen is 14, hence the ratio are:
C = 38.65 / 12 = 3.22
H = 16.25 / 1 = 16.25
N = 45.09 / 14 = 3.22
Divide the three by the lowest ratio which is 3.22:
C = 3.22 / 3.22 = 1
H = 16.25 / 3.22 = 5
N = 3.22 / 3.22 = 1
So the empirical formula is:
CHN
