A compound contains 31.91% potassium, 28.93% chlorine and the rest oxygen. What is the chemical formula of the compound?
[K = 39, Cl = 35.5, O = 16]

godstamtam

7 years ago

K = 31.91
Cl = 28.93
O = 100-(31.91+28.93) = 39.16

K Cl O (1st step:
31.91 28.93 39.16 divide tru
______ ______ _______ by their
39 35 16 molar M)

0.818 0.815 2.448 (2nd step:
______ ______ ______ divide by t
0.815 0.815 0.815 he smalest
Value)

1.004 1 3.004 (correct to t
he nearest
whole no.)
1 : 1 : 3

Therefore K = 1, Cl= 1, O = 3
That is KClO3

9isguy

11 years ago

We ar talkin of Empirical formula hia.

K = 31.9 Cl= 28.93 O= 39.17

given ( K= 39, Cl = 35.5 O= 16)

31.9/39= 1.023 , 28.93/35.5= 0.814

39.17/16 = 2.448



Divide 2ru by the smallest::

1.023/0.815 = 1, 0.815/0.815= 1 2.448/0.814= 3.

therefore K= 1, Cl= 1, O= 3

KClO3

CalebOgbike

5 years ago

This question always gives me joy! Haha

02funmilayo

6 months ago

K=31.91
Cl=28.93
O=39.16. This is because the total constituent of the compound is 100% and Cl and K took up 60.84 so oxygen will take up the rest by subtracting the constituents of K and Cl from 100%
Number of moles:-
K=31.91/39=0.82mol
Cl=28.93/35.5=0.82mol
O=39.16/16=2.45mol

Dividing by the smallest mole(0.82)
K=0.82/0.82=1
Cl=0.82/0.82=1
O=2.45/0.82=3(approximately)

Empirical formula = KClO3

Nebo4000

1 year ago

no percentage of Oxygen was given

adu adeyinka

11 years ago

me i never u cld 0.4 to 1 o