Question

What is the empirical formula of a compound that contains 75% Ag and 25% Cl by mass

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer to your question is     AgCl

Explanation:

Data

Silver = Ag = 75%

Chlorine = Cl = 25%

1.- Convert percent numbers to grams

Silver = 75 g

Chlorine = 25 g

2.- Calculate the moles of each element

Mass number Ag = 108 g

Mass number Cl = 35.5 g

                            108 g of Ag ------------------  1 mol

                              75 g of Ag ------------------   x

                                x = (75 x 1) / 108

                                x = 75 / 108

                                x = 0.69 moles

                            35.5 g of Cl ------------------ 1 mol

                             25 g of Cl    -----------------   x

                                    x = (25 x 1) / 35.5

                                    x = 0.70 moles

3.- Divide by the lowest number of moles

Ag = 0.69/0.69 = 1

Cl = 0.70 / 0.69 = 1.02 ≈ 1

4.- Write the empirical formula

                                                 Ag₁ Cl₁  = AgCl