A pure substance is found to contain 53.7% fluorine and 46.3% xenon by mass. What is the empirical formula of this substance?

Answer: XF8

Explanation:

Empirical Formular shows the simplest ratio of elements in a compound.

Xe = 46.3% F = 53.7%

Divide the percentage composition of each element by the atomic mass.

Xe = 46.3 / 131.3 F = 53.7 / 19

= 0.353 (approx) = 2.826 (approx)

Divide through with the smallest of the answers gotten in previous step.

Xe = 0.353 / 0.353 F = 2.826 / 0.353

= 1 = 8.0

Empirical formular = XF8