- #1
Hamiltonian
- 296
- 190
- Homework Statement
- An inorganic salt gave the following %composition: Na = 29.11% S = 40.51% and O = 30.38%. Calculate the empirical formula of the salt.
- Relevant Equations
- N/A
Let the empirical formula be ##Na_x S_y O_z##
then we can concude
$$\frac {29.11}{100} = \frac{xM_{Na}}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$
$$\frac {40.51}{100} = \frac{yM_S}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$
$$\frac {30.38}{100} = \frac{zM_O}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$
where ##M_{Na} = 23, M_S = 32,M_O = 16##
solving these equations for ##x,y## and ##z## is awfully hard can someone suggest a better way to solve this problem?
the answer is supposed to be: ##Na_2S_2O_3##
then we can concude
$$\frac {29.11}{100} = \frac{xM_{Na}}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$
$$\frac {40.51}{100} = \frac{yM_S}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$
$$\frac {30.38}{100} = \frac{zM_O}{xM_{Na} + yM_S + z M_O}$$
where ##M_{Na} = 23, M_S = 32,M_O = 16##
solving these equations for ##x,y## and ##z## is awfully hard can someone suggest a better way to solve this problem?
the answer is supposed to be: ##Na_2S_2O_3##