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QuestionChemistry

A sample of a compound was found to contain 70% iron and 30% oxygen. Determine the empirical formula. (Fe = 56; O = 16)
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Step 1:
I'll solve this problem step by step using the specified LaTeX formatting guidelines:

Step 2:
: Calculate the molar masses

- Iron (Fe): $$56 \frac{\mathrm{g}}{\mathrm{mol}}
- Oxygen (O): 16 \frac{\mathrm{g}}{\mathrm{mol}}

Step 3:
: Assume a 100 g sample and calculate moles of each element

- Iron: $$\frac{70 \mathrm{g}}{56 \frac{\mathrm{g}}{\mathrm{mol}}} = 1.25 \mathrm{mol}
- Oxygen: \frac{30 \mathrm{g}}{16 \frac{\mathrm{g}}{\mathrm{mol}}} = 1.875 \mathrm{mol}

Step 4:
: Divide each mole value by the smallest number of moles

* O: $$\frac{1.875}{1.25} = 1.5
- Divide both by 1.25:

Step 5:
: Simplify the ratio

* O: $$1.5 \times 2 = 3
- Multiply by 2 to get whole numbers:

Final Answer

\mathrm{Fe}_{2}\mathrm{O}_{3}