A laboratory analysis of a 100 g sample finds it is composed of 1.8 g hydrogen, 56.1 g sulfur, and 42.1 g oxygen. What is its empirical formula? Give your answer in the form H#S#O#, where the number following the element’s symbol corresponds to the subscript in the formula. (Don’t include a 1 subscript explicitly.) For example, the formula CHO would be entered as CH2O.

The empirical formula is

Explanation:

If percentage are given then we are taking total mass is 100 grams.

So, the mass of each element is equal to the percentage given.

Mas of H = 1.8 g

Mass of S = 56.1 g

Mass of O = 42.1 g

Step 1 : convert given masses into moles.

Moles of H =

Mass of S =

Moles of O=

Step 2 : For the mole ratio, divide each value of moles by the smallest number of moles calculated.

For H =

For S =

For O =

Converting to whole number ratios

The ratio of H: S: O= 2: 2: 3

Hence the empirical formula is