Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The US Department of Health and Human Services considers a particular form of asbestos to be a carcinogen. The composition of this form of asbestos is 26.31% Mg, 20.20% Is, 1.45% H and the rest of the mass is due to oxygen. The molar mass of the compound is 277 g/mol. What is the molecular formula for the carcinogenic form of asbestos

The molecular formula for the carcinogenic form of asbestos

Explanation:

a) 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.

Mass of Mg = 26.31 g

Mass of Si= 20.20 g

Mass of H= 1.45 g

Mass of O= (100-(26.31+ 20.20+ 1.45)) =  52.04 g

Step 1 : convert given masses into moles

Moles of Mg=

Moles of Si=

Moles of H=

Moles of O=

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

For Mg =

For Si =

For H=

For O =

The ratio of  Mg : Si: H: O = 1.5 : 1 : 2 : 4.5

Converting them into whole numbers :

The ratio of  Mg : Si: H: O = 3 : 2 : 4 : 9

Hence the empirical formula is

Empirical mass =

Molecular mass = 277 g

Thus molecular formula =