Magnetite is a binary compound containing only iron and oxygen. the percent, by weight, of iron is 72.360 %. what is the empirical formula of magnetite?

Fe3O4

Explanation:

We can deduce the empirical formula from the percentage compositions.

Since it contains only two atoms, the % composition of the oxygen is 100 - 72.36 = 27.64

Now, we divide each by the relative atomic masses of each. The relative atomic mass of iron is 56 and that of oxygen is 16.

Fe = 72.36/56 = 1.292

O = 27.64/16 = 1.7275

Now we divide by the smallest:

Fe = 1.292/1.292 = 1

O = 1.7275/1.292 = 1.33 = 4/3

The ratio is thus 1:1.33 or 1:4/3

Multiplying through by 3 will yield: 3:4

The empirical formula is thus Fe3O4

step-by-step explanation:

whole numbers, zero or greater

the number of valence electrons for each molecule or ion is shown beneath the structure. remember hydrogen will not have more than two electrons. this hydrogen is part of a covalent bond (sharing two electrons). a double bond here would cause hydrogen to share four electrons with phosphorus.