Question

Two unknown compounds are analyzed. Compound I contain 5.63 g of tin and 3.37 g of chlorine, while compound II contains 2.5 g of tin and 2.98 g of chlorine. Are the compounds the same? Show all your work.

Answer 1

Answer:

Compounds 1 and 2 are not the same

Explanation:

To solve this question we need to find the molecular formula of the compounds converting the mass of each atom to moles. Molecular formula is defined as the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a molecula:

Compound 1:

Moles Tin:

5.63g Sn * (1mol / 118.7g) = 0.04743 moles

Moles Cl:

3.37g Cl * (1mol / 35.45g) = 0.09506 moles

Ratio Cl:Sn

0.09506 moles / 0.04743 moles = 2

Molecular formula SnCl₂

Compound 2:

Moles Tin:

2.5g Sn * (1mol / 118.7g) = 0.02106 moles

Moles Cl:

2.98g Cl * (1mol / 35.45g) = 0.08406 moles

Ratio Cl:Sn

0.08406 moles / 0.02106 moles = 4

Molecular formula SnCl₄

Compounds 1 and 2 are not the same because molecular formulas are different.