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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: msandra on July 25, 2004, 11:17:58 AM

Title: experiment: determine empirical formula
Post by: msandra on July 25, 2004, 11:17:58 AM
From the experiment, i used 0.490g metal (Mg) to combust with Oxygen to form a product 0.912g.

1. when i calculate the % oxygen,
0.422/0.912 x 100%=46.3% is that correct?

2. Then i caluclate the mole of oxygen
46.3g/16.00 = 2.89 mol
Should I use 16 or 32?
Title: Re:experiment: determine empirical formula
Post by: jdurg on July 25, 2004, 01:14:35 PM
I would assume that you would use 32 since the question is probably asking about how many moles of Oxygen gas are produced.  (However, you could stick with using 16 and just mention that you are reporting monatmoic Oxygen.  If you use 32, just be sure to report it as molecular oxygen gas so that if there are any questions the person going over your work will know what you were using).  
Title: Re:experiment: determine empirical formula
Post by: ssssss on July 26, 2004, 04:39:42 AM
From the experiment, i used 0.490g metal (Mg) to combust with Oxygen to form a product 0.912g.

1. when i calculate the % oxygen,
0.422/0.912 x 100%=46.3% is that correct?

2. Then i caluclate the mole of oxygen
46.3g/16.00 = 2.89 mol
Should I use 16 or 32?


In the first part you are calculating % of oxygen[ in atoms].So you are using its atomic mass,Whereas in second part where you are dealing with O2 in chemical reaction it means you are considering O2 molecule so you will use its molecular weight[ AND NOT ATOMIC WEIGHT] which is 32.You get it?
Title: Re:experiment: determine empirical formula
Post by: AWK on July 30, 2004, 03:50:14 AM
See:
http://forums.about.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=ab-chemistry&msg=3040.2