Atomic mass of #X# = 75
Percentage of #X# = 75.8%
Atomic mass of #Y# = 16
Percentage of #Y# = (100-75.8)% = 24.2%
Divide each percentage by the correlating mass:
#X# - #(P_X)/(M_X)=75.8/75~~1#
#Y# - #(P_Y)/(M_Y)=24.2/75~~1.5#
The ratio of #X:Y = 1:1.5#, but you can't have #1/2# an atom in a molecule, so the ratio must be doubled so #X:Y=2:3#.
The empirical formula = #X_2Y_3#
Proof:
For X - #"Percentage of mass composition" = ("Mass contributuon")/("Total mass")*100 = (2(75))/(2(75)+3(16))*100 = 75.7575... =75.8%#.
For Y - #"Percentage of mass composition" = ("Mass contributuon")/("Total mass")*100 = (3(16))/(2(75)+3(16))*100 = 24.2424... =24.2%#.
