Answer:
Empirical formula is the lowest whole number ratio of the atoms or moles of the elements in a compound.
Explanation:
Empirical formula:
It is the simplest formula gives lowest whole number ratio of the atoms or moles of the elements in a compound.
For example:
The empirical formula of glucose ( C₆H₁₂O₆) is CH₂O.
The empirical formula of benzene (C₆H₆) is CH.
Consider the following example:
The mass of sodium in a compound is 29 g, sulfur is 40.5 g and oxygen is 30.5 g. The empirical formula will be:
Solution:
Number of gram atoms of Na = 29.0/23 =1.261
Number of gram atoms of S = 40.5 / 32 = 1.266
Number of gram atoms of O = 30.5 / 16 = 1.906
Atomic ratio:
Na : S : O
1.261/1.261 : 1.266/1.261 : 1.906/1.261
1 : 1 : 1.5
Na : S : O = 2 ( 1: 1 : 1.5)
Na : S : O = 2 : 2 : 3
Empirical formula is Na₂S₂O₃.
