Determine the empirical formula of each of the following compounds if a sample contains a. 0.104 mol K, 0.052 mol C, and 0.156 mol O;

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Determine the simplest whole number ratio of moles of each element in the compound.

Identify the moles of each element: K = 0.104 mol, C = 0.052 mol, O = 0.156 mol.

Divide the moles of each element by the smallest number of moles present in the sample, which is 0.052 mol in this case.

Calculate the ratios: \( \frac{0.104}{0.052} \) for K, \( \frac{0.052}{0.052} \) for C, and \( \frac{0.156}{0.052} \) for O.

Use the resulting ratios to write the empirical formula, ensuring all are whole numbers.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Empirical Formula

The empirical formula of a compound represents the simplest whole-number ratio of the elements present in that compound. It is derived from the number of moles of each element in a sample, providing a basic understanding of the composition without indicating the actual number of atoms in a molecule.

Mole Concept

The mole is a fundamental unit in chemistry that quantifies the amount of substance. One mole corresponds to approximately 6.022 x 10^23 entities (atoms, molecules, etc.). Understanding the mole concept is essential for converting between mass, number of particles, and volume in chemical calculations.

Mole Ratio

Mole ratio is the ratio of the amounts in moles of any two compounds involved in a chemical reaction. In determining the empirical formula, the mole ratio of the elements is calculated by dividing the number of moles of each element by the smallest number of moles present, simplifying the ratio to its lowest terms.

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