Hydroxylamine hydrochloride is a powerful reducing agent which is used as a polymerization catalyst. It contains 5.80 mass % H, 20.16 mass % N, 23.02 mass % O, and 51.02 mass % Cl. What is its empirical formula? A) H₂N₇O₈Cl₁₈ B) H₂N₂O₂Cl C) HN₃O₄Cl₉ D) H₄NOCl E) H₄NOCl₂

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To determine the empirical formula, we need to find the lowest whole number ratio of the elements in the compound.

We can start by assuming we have 100g of the compound, which means we have:

- 5.80g H
- 20.16g N
- 23.02g O
- 51.02g Cl

Next, we need to convert these masses into moles by dividing by their respective atomic masses:

- 5.80g H / 1.01 g/mol = 5.74 mol H
- 20.16g N / 14.01 g/mol = 1.44 mol N
- 23.02g O / 16.00 g/mol = 1.44 mol O
- 51.02g Cl / 35.45 g/mol = 1.44 mol Cl

Now we need to find the smallest whole number ratio of these moles. We can do this by dividing each mole value by the smallest value, which is 1.44 mol:

- 5.74 mol H / 1.44 mol = 3.99 mol H
- 1.44 mol N / 1.44 mol = 1 mol N
- 1.44 mol O / 1.44 mol = 1 mol O
- 1.44 mol Cl / 1.44 mol = 1 mol Cl

These ratios give us the empirical formula of the compound, which is H4NOCl.

Option D is the only one that has this empirical formula, so it is the best choice.

Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride Is a Powerful Reducing Agent Which Is Used