# If the weight of metal chloride is x grams containing y grams of metal, then what is the equivalent weight of the metal in terms of x, y, and 35.5?

Aug 17, 2017

$35.5 \cdot \frac{y}{x - y}$ $\text{g}$

#### Explanation:

For this compound, the equivalent mass of the metal represents the mass of metal that combines with exactly $\text{35.5 g}$ of chlorine.

You know that the total mass of the oxide is equal to $x$ $\text{g}$ and that this sample contains $y$ $\text{g}$ of metal, so you can say that the mass of chlorine present in the sample is equal to

overbrace(xcolor(white)(.)"g")^(color(blue)("mass of metal chloride")) - overbrace(ycolor(white)(.)"g")^(color(blue)("mass of metal")) = overbrace((x-y)color(white)(.)"g")^(color(blue)("mass of chlorine"))

So, you know that $y$ $\text{g}$ of metal combine with $\left(x - y\right)$ $\text{g}$ of chlorine, so you can say that $\text{35.5 g}$ of chlorine will combine with

35.5 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g Cl"))) * (y color(white)(.)"g metal")/((x-y)color(red)(cancel(color(black)("g Cl")))) = (35.5 * y/(x-y))color(white)(.)"g metal"

Therefore, the equivalent mass of the metal in this compound is equal to

$\textcolor{\mathrm{da} r k g r e e n}{\underline{\textcolor{b l a c k}{\text{equivalent mass" = (35.5 * y/(x-y))color(white)(.)"g}}}}$