The percent composition of artificial snow is 38.3 % C, 3.22 %H, 24.4 % Na, and the remainder is oxygen. Determine the empirical formula for artificial snow.

C₃H₃NaO₂

Explanation:

The percentage composition of the artificial snow is given.

The smallest whole number ratio of the atoms in a compound gives the empirical formula.

To find the empirical formula of the artificial snow, we use the method below;

Percentage composition of oxygen  = 100 - (38.3+3.33+ 24.4) = 33.97

Elements                            C                     H              Na             O

Percentage

Composition                   38.3                   3.22         24.4          33.97

Number of

moles                           38.3/12                  3.22/1     24.4/23     33.97/16

                                       3.19                     3.22        1.06             2.12

Divide by

the smallest               3.19/1.06                3.22/1.06  1.06/1.06     2.12/1.06

                                        3                             3               1                2

The empirical formula of the compound is C₃H₃NaO₂

a compound is a molecule made of atoms from different elements.

a. by the combination of an unlimited number of elements