Textbook Question Number F 17

[Ian_Lee_1E]

F.17 Osmium forms a molecular compound with mass percentage composition 15.89%
C
, 21.18%
O
, and 62.93%
Os
. (a) What is the empirical formula of this compound? (b) From the mass spectrum of the compound, the molecule was determined to have a molar mass of
907
g⋅mol
−1
. What is its molecular formula?

In this question, the Os goes in front of C and O, making the chemical equation Os(x)C(y)O(z). why is that?

[Lillian Ma 1I]

Hi, I’m not 100% sure, but I think that’s just the common way to write it, but it would be the same no matter the order of the elements in the molecular formula.

[Rajshree 1F]

I think there are certain rules about how to order elements in a compound that we have not learned yet. Regardless, no matter what way you write it, it is still the same compound