Question

Phosphorus combines with oxygen to form two oxides. Find the empirical formula for each oxide of phosphorus if the percentage composition is 43.6% oxygen.

Answer 1

We are given with the percentage composition of oxygen in an oxide from phosphorus and oxygen equal to 43.6 percent. that is the phosphorus is equal to 56.4 percent. we divide each with the molar mass and divide each with the smaller quantity. P then is equal to 1 and O is equal to 1.5. In this case, the empirical formula is P2O3.