Question

How to determine empirical formula from percent composition?

Answer 1

 

DETERMINATION OF EMPIRICAL FORMULA: 

1) The percentage composition of the compound is determined by the qualitative analysis .

2) The percentage of each element is divided by its atomic mass it gives atomic ratio of the elements present in the compound 

3) The simplest ratio is fractional then value of simplest ratio of each element is x a small integer to get is simple whole number for each of the element 

4) The atomic ratio of each element is divided by the minimum value of atomic ratio as to get the simplest ratio of atoms of elements present in the compound .

5) To get the empirical formula symbols of various elements present are written side by side with their respective whole number ratio as subscript to the lower right hand corner of the symbol .