Ncert Exercises & Solutions

The empirical formula of an oxide of iron, which has 69.9% iron and 30.1% dioxygen by mass is-

1. FeO

2. Fe₂O₃

3. Fe₃O₄

4. Fe₃O₂

Hint: Use the empirical formula method

Step 1:

% of iron by mass = 69.9 %
% of oxygen by mass = 30.1 %

Relative
moles of iron in iron oxide:

$= \frac{% of iron by mass}{Atomic mass or oxygen}$
$= \frac{69.9}{55.85} = 1.25$

Relative moles of oxygen in iron oxide:

$= \frac{% of oxygen by mass}{Atomic mass or oxygen}$
$= \frac{30.1}{16.00} = 1.88$

Step 2:

The simplest molar ratio of iron to oxygen:

= 1.25: 1.88
= 1: 1.5
= 2: 3
$∴$ The empirical formula of the iron oxide is ${Fe}_{2} O_{3}$