An unknown acid contains only hydrogen, chlorine and oxygen, the acid was analyzed and found to contain 1.01% hydrogen and 35.29% chlorine with the remiander being oxygen. What is the emeprical formula

Empirical formula is HClO₄.

Explanation:

Given dа ta:

Percentage of hydrogen = 1.01%

Percentage of chlorine = 35.29%

Percentage of oxygen = 100 - (35.29%+1.01%) = 63.7%

Empirical formula = ?

Solution:

Number of gram atoms of H = 1.01 / 1.01 = 1

Number of gram atoms of Cl = 35.29 / 35.5 = 1

Number of gram atoms of O = 63.7 / 16 = 4

Atomic ratio:

H : Cl : O

1/1 : 1/1 : 4/1

1 : 1 : 4

H : Cl : O = 1 : 1 : 4

Empirical formula is HClO₄.