Chapter 2, Problem 2.DCP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The table below displays on each horizontal row an empirical for one of the three compounds.  The empirical formula for each of the other two compounds in that row has to be determined.

    $\begin{array}{l}\text{Compound}\text{A}\text{Compound}\text{B}\text{Compound}\text{C}\\ \text{--------------}{\text{ExEy}}_{\text{2}}\text{Ez}\text{---------------}\\ {\text{Ex}}_{\text{6}}{\text{Ey}}_{\text{8}}{\text{Ez}}_{\text{3}}\text{---------------}\text{---------------}\\ \text{---------------}\text{------------}{\text{Ex}}_{\text{3}}{\text{Ey}}_{\text{2}}\text{Ez}\\ \text{-------------}{\text{Ex}}_{\text{9}}{\text{Ey}}_{\text{2}}{\text{Ez}}_{\text{6}}\text{---------------}\\ \text{-------------}\text{-------------}{\text{ExEy}}_{\text{2}}{\text{Ez}}_{\text{3}}\\ {\text{Ex}}_{\text{3}}{\text{Ey}}_{\text{8}}{\text{Ez}}_{\text{3}}\text{---------------}\text{---------------}\end{array}$.

Explanation of Solution

Using the relationship between $\text{Ex}$ and $\text{Ez}$ in the given formula, then it is possible to determine the coefficient for these two atoms in the other two formulas (since they must be the same).  The $\text{8:4:3}$ ratio found in the first problem allows for the relative determination of the $\text{Ey}$ element in the other two formulas.

  $\begin{array}{l}\text{Compound}\text{A}\text{Compound}\text{B}\text{Compound}\text{C}\\ {\text{ExEy}}_{\text{4}}\text{Ez}{\text{ExEy}}_{\text{2}}\text{Ez}{\text{ExEy}}_{\text{3/2}}\text{Ez}\\ {\text{Ex}}_{\text{6}}{\text{Ey}}_{\text{8}}{\text{Ez}}_{\text{3}}{\text{Ex}}_{\text{6}}{\text{Ey}}_{\text{4}}{\text{Ez}}_{\text{3}}{\text{Ex}}_{\text{6}}{\text{Ey}}_{\text{3}}{\text{Ez}}_{\text{3}}\\ {\text{Ex}}_3{\text{Ey}}_{16/3}\text{Ez}{\text{Ex}}_3{\text{Ey}}_{8/3}\text{Ez}{\text{Ex}}_3{\text{Ey}}_2\text{Ez}\\ {\text{Ex}}_9{\text{Ey}}_{\text{4}}{\text{Ez}}_6{\text{Ex}}_9{\text{Ey}}_2{\text{Ez}}_6{\text{Ex}}_9{\text{Ey}}_{3/2}{\text{Ez}}_6\\ {\text{ExEy}}_{16/3}{\text{Ez}}_3{\text{ExEy}}_{8/3}{\text{Ez}}_3{\text{ExEy}}_2{\text{Ez}}_3\\ {\text{Ex}}_3{\text{Ey}}_8{\text{Ez}}_3{\text{Ex}}_3{\text{Ey}}_{\text{4}}{\text{Ez}}_3{\text{Ex}}_3{\text{Ey}}_3{\text{Ez}}_3\end{array}$