A 12.37 g sample of Mo2O3(s) is converted completely to another molybdenum oxide by adding oxygen. The new oxide has a mass of 13.197 g. Identify the empirical formula of the new oxide

MoO2

Explanation:

The empirical formula is defined as the simplest whole number ratio of atoms present in a molecule.

To solve this question we need to find the moles of Mo2O3. Twice these moles = Moles of Mo. With the moles of Mo we can find its mass.

The difference in masses between mass of new oxide and mass of Mo = Mass of oxygen. With the mass of oxygen we can find its moles and the empirical formula as follows:

Moles Mo2O3 -Molar mass: 239.9g/mol-

12.37g * (1mol / 239.9g) = 0.05156 moles Mo2O3 * (2mol Mo / 1mol Mo2O3) = 0.1031 moles of Mo

Mass Mo -95.95g/mol-:

0.1031 moles of Mo * (95.95g/mol) = 9.895g of Mo

Mass oxygen in the oxide:

13.197 - 9.895g = 3.302g Oxygen

Moles oxygen -Molar mass: 16g/mol-:

3.302g Oxygen * (1mol / 16g) = 0.206 moles O

Now, the ratio of moles O / moles Mo is:

0.206 moles O / 0.1031 moles Mo = 2

That means there are 2 moles of O per mole of Mo and the empirical formula of the new oxide is: