Question #1d3d1

1 Answer
Jan 26, 2018

x = 7 Solution follows

Explanation:

From the formula, we can see that the number of oxygen atoms would be 4 + x. The total mass of this oxygen would then be 16×(4+x)=64+16x

In the same way, the mass of the entire compound can be expressed in terms of x, as

(24.3+32.1+64.0)+x(2+16)=120.4+18x

The fraction of the mass that is oxygen is therefore

64+16x120.4+18x

and because we know the oxygen represents 71.4% of the mass, we can write

64+16x120.4+18x=0.714

Now, solve for x:

64+16x=(120.4+18x)×0.714

64+16x=85.97+12.85x

3.15x=21.97

x=6.97 which we round off to 7