A compound contains 1.10 mol of K, 055 mol of Te, and 1.65 mol O. What is the simplest formula of this compound?

1 Answer
Dec 15, 2016

If we assume you meant #0.55*mol# #"tellurium"#, we get an #"empirical formula"# of #K_2TeO_3#.

Explanation:

We divide thru by the SMALLEST molar quantity, that of tellurium, to get an empirical formula.

#"Moles of tellurium"# #=# #(0.55*mol)/(0.55*mol)=1#

#"Moles of potassium"# #=# #(1.10*mol)/(0.55*mol)=2#

#"Moles of oxygen"# #=# #(1.65*mol)/(0.55*mol)=3#

And thus the empirical formula is #K_2TeO_3#.

All I have done is to divide thru by the SMALLEST MOLAR QUANTITY.