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)H ₂N ₇O ₈Cl ₁₈ B)H ₂N ₂O ₂Cl C)HN ₃O ₄C _l9 D)H ₄NOCl E)H ₄NOCl ₂

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1) Convert the mass % to mass:
- H: 5.80 g
- N: 20.16 g
- O: 23.02 g
- Cl: 51.02 g
2) Find the moles of each element:
- H: 5.80/1.01 = 5.74 mol
- N: 20.16/14.01 = 1.44 mol
- O: 23.02/16.00 = 1.44 mol
- Cl: 51.02/35.45 = 1.44 mol
3) Divide by the smallest number of moles to get the empirical formula:
- H: 5.74/1.44 = 4
- N: 1.44/1.44 = 1
- O: 1.44/1.44 = 1
- Cl: 1.44/1.44 = 1
Empirical formula: H4NOCl.

Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride Is a Powerful Reducing Agent Which Is Used