Question

A 14.51 g sample of a compound contains 4.63 g of potassium, K, 4.20 g of chlorine, Cl, and oxygen, O. Calculate the empirical formula. Insert subscripts as needed. Empirical formula: KCIO

Answer 1

The formula which represents the simple ratio of the atoms of two different elements in one molecule of the substance is called empirical formula.

Example: C₆H₁₂ empirical formula is CH₂

Answer

From the data total weight of sample is 14.51g. so oxygen weight is = 14.51g - (4.63+ 4.20)g

Element with weight	K = 4.63g	Cl = 4.20g	O = 5.68g
Molar mass	39g/mole	35.45g/mole	16g/mole
Moles (weight / M.Wt.)	= 0.1187	= 0.1185	= 0.355
To get whole number (to get this divide with small mole value	0.1187 0.1187 = 1	0.1185 0.1187 = 1	10.355 0.1187 = 3
Moles are	1	1	3

Here 1 K, 1 Cl and 3 O so

Empirical formula is KClO₃