A 2.086-g sample of a compound contains 0.884 g of cobalt 0.482 g of sulfur and 0.720 g of oxygen What is its simplest formula?

Answer 1

Convert the number of grams given into percentage:

0.884/2.086=42.37%

0.482/2.086=23.1%

0.720/2.086=34.51%

Then assume the percentage represent a mass in grams and calculate the amount of moles present in that mass:

For Cobalt 42.37g/58.93g/mol= 0.72 mol (simplify units)

For Sulphur 23.1g/32.06g/mol= 0.72 mol

For Oxygen 34.51g/16g/mol= 2.16 mol

Take the numbers of moles obtained and divide it by the smallest value:

0.72/0.72=1

0.72/0.72=1

2.16/0.72= 3

Therefore, the simplest formula is CoSO3