A compound is found to contain 30.7% Sulfur, 23,3% Magnesium and 46% Oxygen. What is the empirical formula of the compound?

  1. Change % of elements in to moles: 30.7 mol of S, 23.3 mol of Mg and 46 mol of O2.
  2. Find the mass of each of the elements: 30.7 mol / 32.06 g/mol = 0.96 g of S;  23.3 mol / 24.31 g/mol = 0.96 g of Mg;  46 mol / 16.00 g/mol = 2.88 g of O2;  
  3. Divide the masses by the smallest mass: 0.96/0.96 = 1; 0.96/0.96 = 1; 2.88/0.96 = 3
  4. The empirical formula of this compound is MgSO3
HK

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What evidence is there to support the delocalised model of benzene over Kekulé's model?


What are the different types of isomers?


Why is Kekule's benzene structure an inaccurate representation of the molecule?


How can pressure affect the equilibrium shift of a reversible gaseous reaction?