Answer:
CaCl
2
Explanation:
As with all these problems, we assume a
100
⋅
g
of compound, and divide through by the ATOMIC masses of each component element:
Moles of calcium
=
36.1
⋅
g
40.08
⋅
g
⋅
mol
−
1
=
0.901
⋅
mol
.
Moles of chlorine
=
63.9
⋅
g
35.45
⋅
g
⋅
mol
−
1
=
1.802
mol
.
We divide each molar quantity through by the smallest molar quantity (that of calcium) to give an empirical formula of
CaCl
2
.
For ionic materials, we do not speak of the molecular formula, and the empirical formula is the formula we quote for reference.
