Analysis of a compound of sulfur, oxygen and fluorine showed that it is 31.42% S and 31.35% O, with F accounting for the remainder. In a separate experiment, the molar mass of the compound was found to be 102.1 g/mol. Determine the molecular formula of the compound.

The molecular formula is SO2F2

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Suppose the mass of compound = 100 grams

The compound contains:

31.42 % S = 31.42 grams S

31.35 % O = 31.35 grams O

100 - 31.42 - 31.35 = 37.23 F

Molar mass of S = 32.065 g/mol

Molar mass F = 19.00 g/mol

Molar mass O = 16.00 g/mol

Step 2: Calculate moles

Moles = mass / molar mass

Moles S = 31.42 grams / 32.065 g/mol

Moles S = 0.9799 moles

Moles 0 = 31.35 grams / 16.00 g/mol

Moles 0 = 1.959 moles

Moles F = 37.23 grams / 19.00 g/mol

Moles F = 1.959 moles

Step 3: Calculate mol ratio

We divide by the smallest amount of moles

S: 0.9799 / 0.9799 = 1

F: 1.959 / 0.9799 = 2

O : 1.959 / 0.9799 = 2

The empirical formula is SO2F2

This formula has a molecular mass of 102.06 g/mol

This means the empirical formula is also the molecular formula : SO2F2