1. Assume a 100g Sample:
* This makes the calculations easier, as 50% sulfur means 50g of sulfur, and 50% oxygen means 50g of oxygen.
2. Convert Grams to Moles:
* Sulfur: 50g S / 32.06 g/mol S = 1.56 mol S
* Oxygen: 50g O / 16.00 g/mol O = 3.13 mol O
3. Find the Mole Ratio:
* Divide the number of moles of each element by the smallest number of moles (which is 1.56 mol S in this case):
* Sulfur: 1.56 mol S / 1.56 mol = 1
* Oxygen: 3.13 mol O / 1.56 mol = 2
4. Write the Empirical Formula:
* The mole ratio tells us the simplest whole number ratio of sulfur to oxygen atoms in the compound.
* The empirical formula is SO₂.
