What is the empirical formula of a compound made up of 80% oxygen and 20% hydrogen?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 28, 2017

I think you will need to check your sources.......

Explanation:

We assume a #100*g# mass of compound, and we interrogate its atomic composition by dividing thru by the ATOMIC masses of each constituent.....

#"Moles of oxygen"=(80.0*g)/(15.999*g*mol^-1)=5.00*mol#

#"Moles of hydrogen"=(20.0*g)/(1.00794*g*mol^-1)=20.00*mol#

We divide thru by the LOWEST molar quantity to give and empirical formula of.....

#H_4O#.....

This is not a valid chemical formula.....and I would check your source.

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