Question

A compound 21.20% nitrogen 6.06% hydrogen 24.30% sulfur and 48.45% oxygen. Write the empirical formula and name the compound?

Answer 1

Greetings!

To find the empirical formula you need the relative atomic mass of each element!

N = 14

H = 1

S = 32.1

You can simply change the percentages into full grams

N = 12.20

H = 6.06

S = 48.45

Then you use this to find the Number of moles = amount in grams / atomic mass

N = 12.20 ÷ 14 = 0.8714

H = 6.06 ÷ 1 = 6.06

S = 48.45 ÷ 32.1 = 1.541

Then divide each number of moles by the smallest value:

N = 0.8714 ÷ 0.8714 = 1

H = 6.06 ÷ 0.8714 = 6.9 ≈ 7

S = 1.541 ÷ 0.8714 = 1.76 ≈ 2

So that means that there are 1 Nitrogen, 7 hydrogen, and 2 sulfur. This means the empirical formula would be:

NH₇S₂

Hope this helps!