The empirical formula of cuprite consist of 88.8% Cu and 11.2% O by mass

Answer is: t he empirical formula of cuprite is Cu ₂O.

If we use 100 grams of cuprite:

m (Cu) = ω (Cu) · m (cuprite).

ω (Cu) = 88.8% : 100% = 0.888.

m (Cu) = 0.888 · 100 g.

m (Cu) = 88.8 g.

n (Cu) = m (Cu) : M (Cu).

n (Cu) = 88.8 g : 63.55 g/mol.

n (Cu) = 1.4 mol.

m (O) = 0.112 · 100 g.

m (O) = 11.2 g.

n (O) = 11.2 g : 16 g/mol.

n (O) = 0.7 mol.

n (Cu) : n (O) = 1.4 mol : 0.7 mol / 0.7.

n (Cu) : n (O) = 2 : 1.

We have to find the empirical formula of cuprite

empirical formula is the simplest ratio of whole numbers of components in a compound

calculating for 100 g of the compound

Cu O

mass 88.8 g 11.2 g

number of moles 88.8 g / 63.5 g/mol 11.2 g / 16 g/mol

= 1.40 = 0.7

divided by the least number of moles

1.40 / 0.7 = 2 0.7 / 0.7 = 1

number of atoms

Cu - 2

O - 1

empirical formula Cu₂O