Question

What is the empirical formula of a compound that contains 43.38% sodium, 11.33% carbon, and 45.29% oxygen?

Answer 1

`Na_2CO_3`

Explanation:

First of all divide the percentages with their atomic mass
`43.38/23=1.89 , 11.33/12=0.94 , 45.29/16=2.83`
Now divide every value with the smallest value
`1.88/0.94=2, 0.94/0.94=1, 2.83/0.94=3`
put these ratios by their respected elements
so the empirical formula is `Na_2CO_3`