Question

A 18.77 g sample of a compound contains 5.99 g of potassium, K, 5.43 g of chlorine, Cl, and oxygen, O. Calculate the empirical formula. Insert subscripts as needed.

Answer 1

The empirical formula of the compound is KClO₃.

Empirical formula

This is the simplest structural formula a compound can have.

The given mass of the elements;

potassium, K = 5.99 g

chlorine, Cl = 5.43 g

oxygen, O = 18.77 g - (5.99 + 5.43)g = 7.35 g

The empirical formula of the compound is calculated as follows;

$K: \ \ \frac{5.99}{39} = 0.15 \\\\Cl: \ \ \frac{5.43}{35.5} = 0.15\\\\O: \ \ \frac{7.35}{16} = 0.46$

Divide through by the smallest fraction;

$K: \ \frac{0.15}{0.15} = 1\\\\Cl: \ \frac{0.15}{0.15} =1 \\\\O: \ \frac{0.46}{0.15} = 3$

empirical formula = KClO₃

Learn more about empirical formula here: brainly.com/question/1603500