Question

What is the empirical formula for a compound that is 67.6% mercury, 10.8% sulfur, and 21.6% oxygen

Answer 1

Answer:

Empirical formula of the compound is $HgSO_{4}$.

Explanation:

      Element                                            molar mass (g/mol)

         Hg                                                            200.59

          S                                                              32.065

          O                                                              15.999

100 g of the compound contains 67.6 g Hg, 10.8 g of S and 21.6 g of O.

So ratio of number of moles (n) of all the constituting elements in 100 g of the compound is given as:      

$n_{Hg}:n_{S}:n_{O}$   = $\frac{67.6}{200.59}:\frac{10.8}{32.065}:\frac{21.6}{15.999}$

                        = 0.337 : 0.337 : 1.35

                       $\approx$ 1: 1: 4

So empirical formula of the compound is $HgSO_{4}$