Question

A compound is found to contain 73.23% xenon name 26.77% oxygen by mass. What is the empirical formula for this compound ?

Answer 1

The empirical formula is XeO₃.

Explanation:

Assume 100 g of the compound is present. This changes the percents to grams:

Given mass in g:

Xenon = 73.23 g

Oxygen = 26.77 g

We have to convert it to moles.

Xe = 73.23/   131.293 = 0.56 moles

O = 26.77/ 16 = 1.67 moles

Divide by the lowest value, seeking the smallest whole-number ratio:

Xe = 0.56/ 0.56 = 1

O = 1.67/ 0.56 = 2.9 ≈3

So the empirical formula is XeO₃.