If an oxide of chlorine contains 81.6% chlorine, calculate its empirical formula.

Question

cwrw238 · Answer

divide 0.816 by  relative atomic mass of chlorine (35.5 - i believe) and 
and (1- 0.816) by RAM of oxygen (16)
and find ratio of chlorine to osygen

4meisu · Answer

Why do you subtract 1 from 0.816 for Oxygen?

cwrw238 · Answer

because theres only chlorine and oxygen in the compound

4meisu · Answer

It gives off a very big ratio though, Cl 20

cwrw238 · Answer

i'll try that again

for chlorine the value is 0.816 / 35.5 = .023
for oxygen its  0.184 / 16 = .0115

so chlrine to oxygen is 0.023  0.0115 = 2:1

empirical formula is Cl2O

cwrw238 · Answer

2 atoms of chlorine bonded with one of oxygen

4meisu · Answer

Thank you, I appreciate it :)