Question

A compound contains 16.7 g of iridium and 10.3 g of selenium, what is its empirical formula?

Answer 1

Answer:

THE EMPIRICAL FORMULA OF THE COMPOUND IS Ir Se2

Explanation:

Iridium = 16.7 g

Selenium = 10.3 g

Total mass = 16.7 + 10.3 = 27 g

To calculate the empirical formula, we first calculate the percentage com[position of the individual elements.

Percentage composition of iridium = 16.7 / 27 * 100 = 61.85 %

Percentage composition of selenium = 10.3 / 27 * 100 = 38.15 %

Next is to divide the percentage composition of each element by their respective molecular masses

Molecular mass of iridium = 192 g/mol

Molecular mass of selenium = 79g/mol

Iridium = 61.85 / 192 =  0.3221

Selenium = 38.15 / 79 = 0.4829

Next is to divide the values by the smaller of the two values

Iridium = 0.3221 / 0.3221 = 1

Selenium = 0.4829 / 0.3221 = 1.5

Next is to round up the values to a whole number

Iridium = 1

Selenium = 2

The empirical formula therefore is Ir Se2