<u>Answer:</u> The empirical formula of the compound is
<u>Explanation:</u>
The empirical formula is the chemical formula of the simplest ratio of the number of atoms of each element present in a compound.
The number of moles is defined as the ratio of the mass of a substance to its molar mass. The equation used is:
......(1)
Let the mass of the compound be 100 g
Given values:
% of K = 24.7%
% of Mn = 34.76%
% of O = 40.50%
Mass of K = 24.7 g
Mass of Mn = 34.76 g
Mass of O = 40.50 g
To calculate the empirical formula of a compound, few steps need to be followed:
- <u>Step 1:</u> Calculating the number of moles of each element
We know:
Molar mass of K = 39.10 g/mol
Molar mass of Mn = 54.94 g/mol
Molar mass of O = 16 g/mol
Putting values in equation 1, we get:
- <u>Step 2:</u> Calculating the mole fraction of each element by dividing the calculated moles by the least calculated number of moles that is 0.632 moles
- <u>Step 3:</u> Writing the mole fraction as the subscripts of each of the element
The empirical formula of the compound becomes
Hence, the empirical formula of the compound is