Acompound is found to be 38.76% calcium, 19.97% phosphorous and 41.28% oxygen. what is the empirical formula for this compound?

The empirical formula for this compound in the given case would be - Ca₃P₂O₈ or  .

Let assume the given compound is 100g than the molar quantities of each element.

=> Moles of calcium

=  

=  0.967 mol

=> Moles of phosphorus

=    

=  0.644 mol

=> Moles of oxygen

=

= 2.58 mol

Multiply integers of molecules by a number that makes them close to integers.

Element  Mass/g     Moles         Ratio       ×2       Integers       

Ca       38.76      0.967 07     1.4998       2.9995         3     

P         19.97       0.644 82     1                   2                2     

O        41.28       2.580 0       4.0011        8.0023          8

Thus, the empirical formula is Ca₃P₂O₈.  

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The empirical formula is Ca₃P₂O₈.

Assume that you have 100 g of the compound.

Then you have 38.76 g Ca, 19.97 g P, and 41.28 g O.

Now, we must convert these masses to moles and find their ratios.

If the number in the ratio are not close to integers, you multiply them by a number that makes them close to integers.

From here on, I like to summarize the calculations in a table.

Element  Mass/g     Moles         Ratio       ×2       Integers  

     Ca       38.76      0.967 07     1.4998   2.9995         3

     P         19.97       0.644 82     1             2                   2

     O        41.28       2.580 0       4.0011   8.0023          8

The empirical formula is Ca₃P₂O₈.

do u have any choices to choose from ? ?

answer: the rate of diffusion increases with increase in temperature.

increase in temperature, increases the molecular/particles speed (kinetic energy. diffusion means movement of particles through the material.

generally, the heavier the particle the more it interacts with the environment and more the temperature matters. so higher temperature results in higher diffusion.