Question

The mineral enargite is 48.41% cu, 19.02% as, and 32.57% s by mass. what is the empirical formula of enargite?

Answer 1

Answer is: the empirical formula of enargite is Cu₃AsS₄.
If we use 100 grams of enargite:
n(Cu) = 48,41 g ÷ 63.55 g/mol.
n(Cu) = 0.761 mol.
n(As) = 19.02 g ÷ 74.92 g/mol.
n(As) = 0.254 mol.
n(S) = 32.57 g ÷ 32.065 g/mol.
n(S) = 1.016 mol.
n(Cu) : n(As) : n(S) = 0.761 mol : 0.254 mol : 1.016 mol / 0.254.
n(Cu) : n(As) : n(S) = 3 mol : 1 mol : 4 mol.