Question

A certain mineral used as a food preservative contains 8.242 % potassium, 5.687% aluminum, 5.099% hydrogen, 67.45 % oxygen and 13.52 % sulfur. What is the empirical formula for this compound?

Answer 1

assume 100 % = 100 grams

K = 8.242 g

Al = 5.687 g

H = 5.099 g

O = 67.45 g

S = 13.52 g

find the mole ration and then divide the smallest possible value and then calculate the empirical formula is as follows

mole ratio =>

=> K                      Al                    H               O              S

=> (8.242/39.089) (5.687/26.98) (5.099/1)    (67.45/16)     (13.52/32)

=> 0.2108             0.2108    5.099    4.2156     0.4225

=> (0.2108/0.2108) (0.2108/0.2108) (5.099/0.2108) (4.2156/0.02108) (0.4225/0.2108)

=>    1                           1                        24    20    2

the empirical formula is as follows

=> K₁Al₁H₂₄O₂₀S₂

answer => KAlH₂₄O₂₀S₂