A sample of dolomite, a carbonate mineral, contains 0.5422 mol Ca, 0.5422 mol Mg, 1.085 mol C, and 3.254 mol O. What is the empirical formula of this sample of dolomite?

1 Answer
Meave60
Mar 12, 2018

The empirical formula for dolomite is #"CaMgC"_2"O"_6",# which is #"CaMg(CO"_3)_2"#.

Explanation:

The empirical formula of a compound represents the simplest whole number ratio of elements in the compound.

To determine the subscripts for the empirical formula, divide the number of moles of each element by the least number of moles. The least number of moles is #"0.5422 mol Ca"#.

#"Ca:"# #(0.5422"mol")/(0.5422"mol")=1.000#

#"Mg:"# #(0.5422"mol")/(0.5422"mol")=1.000#

#"C:"# #(1.085"mol")/(0.5422"mol")=2.001~~2#

#"O:"# #(3.254"mol")/(0.5422"mol")=6.001~~6#

The empirical formula is:

#"CaMgC"_2"O"_6#

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