Choose the molecular formula of an oxide of iron in which the mass per...
For element Fe, mole of atoms = 69.9/56 = 1.25
For element O, Mole of atoms = 30.1/16 = 1.88
Mole ratio of Fe = 1.25/1.25 = 1
Mole ratio of O = 1.88/1.25 = 1.5
Simplest whole number ratio of Fe and O = 2, 3
Empirical formula of compoimd = Fe
2O
3Molecular mass of Fe
2O
3 = 160

Molecular formula = Fe
2O
3
Choose the molecular formula of an oxide of iron in which the mass per...
To determine the molecular formula of the oxide of iron, we need to consider the given information about the mass percent of iron and oxygen, as well as the molecular mass.
Given:
Mass percent of iron (Fe) = 69.9%
Mass percent of oxygen (O) = 30.1%
Molecular mass = 160
To find the molecular formula, we need to determine the ratio of iron to oxygen atoms in the compound.
Let's assume the compound has x moles of iron and y moles of oxygen.
1. Calculating the mass of iron and oxygen:
The mass of iron can be calculated using the mass percent:
Mass of iron = (Mass percent of iron / 100) * Total mass of the compound
= (69.9 / 100) * 160
= 111.84 g
Similarly, the mass of oxygen can be calculated:
Mass of oxygen = (Mass percent of oxygen / 100) * Total mass of the compound
= (30.1 / 100) * 160
= 48.16 g
2. Determining the moles of iron and oxygen:
Moles of iron = Mass of iron / Atomic mass of iron
= 111.84 g / 55.85 g/mol (atomic mass of Fe)
≈ 2 moles
Moles of oxygen = Mass of oxygen / Atomic mass of oxygen
= 48.16 g / 16 g/mol (atomic mass of O)
≈ 3 moles
3. Simplifying the ratio of iron to oxygen atoms:
To simplify the ratio, we divide the number of moles by the smallest value, which is 2 in this case.
Moles of iron (Fe) = 2 / 2 = 1
Moles of oxygen (O) = 3 / 2 ≈ 1.5
Since we need whole numbers for the ratio of atoms, we multiply both moles by 2 to get a whole number:
Moles of iron (Fe) = 1 * 2 = 2
Moles of oxygen (O) = 1.5 * 2 = 3
Therefore, the molecular formula of the oxide of iron is Fe2O3, which corresponds to option C.