Question

Find the empirical formula of Hydrogen Cyanide
@aaronq

Answer 1

@MARC_

Answer 2

but HCN is already in its lowest form
what do u know about empirical formula?

Answer 3

I mean can't it be H.5CN.5?

Answer 4

not really
empirical formula is lowest ratio between the two
and lowest ratio is 1:1 in this case
and thats how it already is H : CN ; 1 : 1
in empirical formulas - deals only with full numbers, no decimals

Answer 5

Why no decimals???

Answer 6

well thats how it works, never really thought why
but well it wouldnt be efficient to have half half as lowest ratio
its inconvenient

Answer 7

like see
CH4 - ratio 1:4
if i decrease it
it'll be
0.25 : 1
but is it convenient?

Answer 8

Why not?

Answer 9

because u cant make a molecule

Answer 10

can u make a molecule with half the atom?

Answer 11

its impossible

Answer 12

Why?

Answer 13

i just realized it lol

Answer 14

LOL

Answer 15

okay look

Answer 16

Yes.

Answer 17

how does a molecule form? a bond between them

Answer 18

sharing or transferring of electrons right?
and it happens between FULL atoms

Answer 19

can u break an atom and react it with another?

Answer 20

http://prntscr.com/6h4328

Answer 21

Half Na atom and half Na atom??????????

Answer 22

http://prntscr.com/6h43aq

Answer 23

.5 + .5 is 1
so why not???

Answer 24

its impossible my dear

Answer 25

to make a molecule you need 2 or more full atoms

Answer 26

sharing of transferring electrons between each other

Answer 27

BUT why so is my question!

Answer 28

coz its not a chocolate bar
lol for more details ask quantum physicists

Answer 29

1 atom + 1 atom = 1 molecule
.5 atom + .5 atom = .75 or .25 mole??????????????

Answer 30

+ if you break an atom
u'll just get bunch of protons, neutrons, photons, electrons

Answer 31

Or maybe even 1 molecule

Answer 32

u r killing my brain lol

Answer 33

Mine is getting killed too but I want a answer which I cant seem to get !

Answer 34

well i get it why but i cant seem to explain it well lol

Answer 35

So
I combine
.5 neutron + .5 neutron = .25 neutron of a molecules?!?!?!?!?

Answer 36

@Somy

Answer 37

u cant break them T_T
do we have any quantum buddies here
@matt101 most probably can help

Answer 38

LOL
Thanks anyways.

Answer 39

But why can't I break them?

Answer 40

ask a physicist lol
its quantum level question and im n00b

Answer 41

maybe @dan815 can help

Answer 42

quantum physicists or physicists? lol

Answer 43

quantum quantum

Answer 44

Thanks
(STILL FREAKING CONFUSED!!!!!!!!!!)

Answer 45

sorry, couldnt be of any help really

Answer 46

Nah
You were helpful actually.

Answer 47

Noticed I was mentioned before...what's the question?

Answer 48

his q is why cant we use decimal quantities in empirical formula

Answer 49

like it has to be a whole number
why not with decimals
i tried to explain but im no good at it

Answer 50

The empirical formula is just the simplest positive integer ratio of elements in a compound. That's how it's defined by the IUPAC. This means your empirical formula can't contain negative numbers or fractions (decimals).

Physically it's not meaningful to talk about half an atom anyways, because atoms are as small as you get (then you start going quantum, where conventional rules of physics and chemistry may not apply).

For instance, if you talk about half an oxygen atom, you might be referring to an atom that has half the protons of oxygen, in which case you're actually talking about beryllium, not oxygen. Or you might be talking about an atom that has half the neutrons of oxygen (as listed on the periodic table), in which case you're talking about an isotope of oxygen (which is considered a different "species" of the atom anyways). Or you might be talking about an atom with half the electrons, in which case you have an O^(4+) atom, which is a very unusual ion of the same oxygen atom.

To summarize, as soon as you start dividing the nuclei of individual atoms, you either produce different isotopes of that element, or atoms of new elements altogether. You no longer have the element you're actually concerned about. In fact, this is the basis of of certain radioactive decay processes and nuclear fission.

I hope something in that explanation is helpful! If anyone still has questions then let me know.

Answer 51

So any it be resolves in quantum physics then I mean decimal formulas???

Answer 52

@matt101

Answer 53

I don't quite understand your question

Answer 54

In other words why can't we use .5 atoms to make a molecules instead of 1?

Answer 55

Because it's not really possible. Look at my explanation above. If you combine 2 beryllium atoms into a molecule, the that molecule will have 2 Be atoms, not 1 O atom. In conventional reactions, atomic nuclei (i.e. protons and neutrons) can't start splitting or fusing - it's just the electron configuration that changes to form or break bonds.