Question

mercury forms a compound with chlorine that is 73.9% mercury and 26.1% chlorine by mass. what is the empirical formula​

Answer 1

Answer:

Percent Composition & Empirical Formula:

Given the percent composition of a particular unknown compound, we can determine its empirical formula by:

• Assuming that we analyze 100g
• of that compound so that the percentages represent grams.
• Finding moles of each atom present.
• Determining the molar ratio of the atoms within the structure which represents the stoichiometric ratio within the molecular formula of the compound.

Answer 2

Given: Mercury forms a compound with chlorine that is 73.9% mercury and 26.1% chlorine by mass.

To find: We have to find the empirical formula of this compound.

Solution:

Let mass of mercury in the compound is 73.9

Mass of chlorine in the compound is 26.1.

The molecular weight of Mercury is 200.

The molecular weight of chlorine is 35.

Number of moles of mercury will be-

$\frac{73.9}{200} = 0.369$

Number of moles of chlorine will be-

$\frac{26.1}{35} = 0.745$

Smallest number of mole is 0.369.

So, we have divide number of moles by 0.369.

Number of mercury atom is

$\frac{0.369}{0.369} = 1$

So, 1 mercury atom will present.

Number of chlorine atom is-

$\frac{0.745}{0.369} = 2$

So, 2 chlorine atoms will present.

Thus emperical formula of the compound is $HgCl_2$.